[Utaaah!]

You asked for it (Delts did anyway), you got it! The official Ogden, Utah, development/news/whimsical banter thread.

Here's a brief rundown of 10 notable developments (in no particular order) that I'm aware of in the greater Ogden area:

1. The Junction (Ogden City Mall redevelopment)
Complete demo and redevelopment of 2-block (20 acre) former mall underway. New features include:

High-Adventure Recreation Center/Gold's Gym/Fat Cats bowling
Treehouse Children's Museum
Megaplex theater
Two 4-story office buildings
8-story residential building
Townhouses
Gateway-style retail (built by Boyer Company)

http://ogdencity.com/index.php?module=ibcms&fxn=mall.mallredevelopment

2. Ogden River Project redevelopment area
Planned as a dense urban village along Ogden River north of downtown

http://ogdencity.com/index.php?module=ibcms&fxn=mall.riverproject

3. American Can High Technology Center

Historic downtown cannery complex being redeveloped for class-A office use.
Possible incubator for high-tech startups.
Rumored to be site for Amer Sports USA HQ (Atomic, Salomon, Suunto brands)

4. Gondola
Much-debated proposed transit option from DT to Weber State University, proposed ski resort, and McKay-Dee Medical Center, funded through sale of golf course to the resort developer

http://www.ogdencity.com/displayarticle50.html

5. Modern Streetcars
UTA's choice for transit in Ogden

6. Malan's Basin Ski Resort/Mt. Ogden Golf Course redevelopment
New Ski Resort proposed for mountain above Weber State University campus. To finance the resort and gondola, the developer would purchase the golf course from the city and additional land from WSU and build luxury homes around a redesigned course. Not many details have emerged about the resort itself.

7. Winter-sports-related business hub initiative
Ogden has actively pursued and successfully landed several business relocations of firms serving the winter sports market

8. Adam Aircraft manufacturing facility
New 80k sq. ft. airplane manufacturing facility recently broke ground at Ogden Hinkley Municipal Airport.

9. Union Square
New condos and live/work lofts on historic 25th Street in DT Ogden

10. Commuter Rail
Ogden will be near the end of the line for FrontRunner, which will connect Ogden to DT SLC by 2008.

More to come....

[Utaaah!]

Amer Sports may be taking space in the American Can building. I'm excited that they're interested in restoring and occupying historic space downtown, rather than construct a low-rise tilt-up in the 'burbs.

Amer Sports Ogden site revealed

Thursday, October 19, 2006

By Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net

OGDEN -- Amer Sports Corp. is apparently planning to move its North American headquarters to the American Can Co. complex downtown, according to an official with one of the firm's subsidiaries.

Olivier Canler, vice president of finance for Suunto, based in Carlsbad, Calif., one of three sports equipment brands Amer Sports plans to relocate to Ogden, said the headquarters will be located in a former downtown cannery in need of extensive renovations. He attributed that information to Mike Dowse, the head of Amer's North American operation.

The American Can Co. complex on 20th Street is the only former cannery downtown, Greg Montgomery, the city's planning manager said. Dowse could not be reached for comment.

Mayor Matthew Godfrey did not say which downtown buildings Amer Sports is considering, but noted several structures may be suitable, including the First Security Building on Washington Boulevard, the Kiesel Building on Kiesel Avenue, and the American Can Co. complex.

Amer Sports will likely sign a lease agreement in the next several weeks, Godfrey said.

He also said the city has not offered any cash incentives to Amer Sports.

In addition, the Ogden Redevelopment Agency, made up of the City Council, hasn't been asked to commit tax increment financing for the company, said Community and Economic Development Director Dave Harmer.

Depending on which building it chooses, Amer Sports could realize as much as $2 million in reduced lease payments over 10 years through the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program, he said.

The federal government offers a tax credit that can be taken over 10 years equal to 20 percent of the amount spent for substantial renovations to certified historic structures.

Since the tax credit effectively reduces out-of-pocket expenses for renovations, owners of historic buildings can often reduce lease payments to attract tenants, Ward Ogden, a senior project coordinator for the city's Community and Economic Development Department, said.

In addition to reduced lease payments, Amer Sports will also receive several quality-of-life perks for its employees from local businesses, such as free season passes at Snow Basin ski resort, Godfrey said.

Amer Sports plans to begin relocating three of its brands, Salomon, a maker of snow-sports equipment and apparel based in Portland Ore., Atomic, a ski manufacturer located in Amherst, N.H.; and Suunto, which makes watches and other diving products, to Ogden in June or July 2007. The company expects to employ about 230 workers when fully settled in the first quarter of 2008.

The Governor's Office of Economic Development has authorized tax-rebate incentives totaling about $7.9 million for the company over 10 years.

[delts145]

:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship::worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship::worship: :worship:

We're Overdue for this Thread. Nice Going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wasatch_One]

Sorry delts, I have been out of commission for the past 4 days... I got your message buuuuut, i think Utaaaah is much more knowing of whats going on in and around Ogden than I..

Good work Utaaaah!

I would love to see Ogden regain its former glory once again... I can feel the turnaround that is going on in and around its downtown area...

[wrendog]

nice.. looks like a great projct for the mall area..

[delts145]

Tai Pan Trading breaks ground in Clearfield

2nd location will open in October, create 75 jobs

By Natalie Clemens
Deseret Morning News
A Utah-grown wholesale home decor business is branching out by building a retail building in Davis County.
Tai Pan Trading held an official ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at 1400 E. 700 South, Clearfield. The building will be the second for the business, which was started by Nick Stewart of Orem.
Stewart said Clearfield city has been very easy to work with.
"We are thrilled to death to be here in Clearfield because of the reception we've had from the city," he said.
Clearfield Mayor Don Wood welcomed Tai Pan Trading to the area.
"I'd like to express our appreciation to Nick Stewart and Bruce McAllister for the confidence and commitment they have for our city of Clearfield," Wood said.
The Clearfield location of Tai Pan Trading will create 75 new jobs and is scheduled to open in October. Tom Stuart Construction broke ground on the project in the middle of May.
The 100,000-square-foot building will house 70,000 square feet of showroom and 30,000 square feet of warehouse space. It will also include an eatery. The building will be located on the southeast corner of the lot and its parking lot will have 500 spaces
Stewart started Tai Pan Trading in 1980 as wholesale home decor distributor to businesses. In February 2005 he opened the wholesale business up to the public in a newly built retail building in Sandy.
Bruce McAllister, president of Tai Pan Trading, said he is thankful for support from the company's employees. That support, he said, makes the company's expansion possible.
"Without the employees we have right now, and the trust we feel we have with them, we really couldn't make this step," he said.
Stewart said the company hopes to open a third location in Orem in 2007. He said about half of Tai Pan Trading's customers come from outside the Salt Lake Valley.
"We know we have a large customer base up here and a high level of interest up here," he said of Davis County.
McAllister said customers come from as far away as Idaho and Wyoming to visit the Sandy location of Tai Pan Trading.
"We can service our customers much better by bringing this closer," he said, adding that the Davis County location is about 40 miles north of the Sandy location.

[delts145]

Mayor wants 'divisive' gondola signs gone

By Nicole Warburton
Deseret Morning News
Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey has asked two groups of residents to stop distributing and to remove lawn signs about a proposal to build a gondola and mountain resort in the city.
Godfrey made the request last week during a meeting of the City Council, he said Tuesday. His request came just a week after some residents accused Godfrey and the city's police chief, Jon Greiner, of putting an officer on administrative leave for his involvement in a campaign against Godfrey. The officer's wife was seen driving a van that displayed signs that were critical of Godfrey.
Godfrey said in an interview that the two incidents were unrelated.
"I don't make decisions based on who criticizes me and what they say," he said. "I try to do what's best for the community and then let the chips fall."
The request that Lift Ogden and Smart Growth Ogden remove their signs was a way to encourage public dialogue about the gondola and resort proposal, and the signs had become divisive, Godfrey said in a news release. Taking down signs isn't "asking people to take down their view points, just their signs, so that we can come together as a community and dialogue about this proposal."
Lift Ogden, which supports the gondola proposal, agreed to remove its signs, according to the news release. Smart Growth Ogden, which is opposed to the gondola project, did not agree.
"We understand how some people might want a break from all the lawn signs," Smart Growth Ogden said in a statement. "However, we don't think the messages on the Smart Growth signs are divisive. Rather, we believe they encourage public involvement in the democratic process."
Smart Growth is opposed to the project because the group's members say they do not want city funds to be used to build the gondola. Lift Ogden says the project will revitalize Ogden's economy.
Residents have been debating the gondola and resort proposal for over a year. The proposal calls for a gondola to run from the western part of the city, through downtown and up Mount Ogden to a pedestrian-only resort in Malan's Basin.
Chris Peterson is the project's developer. In addition to building the resort, Peterson is proposing to buy the city's Mount Ogden Golf Course and build about 400 homes. The money from home sales would help pay for the gondola.
Over 200 Ogden residents have signed petitions urging the city not to sell the golf course. The proposal is now being debated before the Ogden City Council. Peterson has said in past interviews that he hopes to have the gondola running by 2008.


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[delts145]

Defense Depot Ogden was a U.S. military installation located in Ogden, Utah. It encompassed 1,128 acres with its southeast corner located on 12th Street and Tomlinson Avenue. Its eastern border is that of the original Central Pacific Railroad's right-of-way.


History
Prior to the establishment of what was known as the Utah General Depot on September 15, 1941, the land was used for pasture and farmland. It was one of seven similar facilities located around the nation. The property entered the ownership of the United States Army, under the command of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD). The DDOU was used as logistical supply and administrative support for military installations and other DOD and Federal agencies. The mission included the receipt, storage, maintenance, inventory and issue of items that include food, clothing, textiles, packages, petroleum products, pesticides, pressurized gases and general medical, industrial, construction and electronic supplies.

During World War II, the DDOU was also used as an internment camp for both German and Italian prisoners of war.

The DDOU was listed in the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 1995. As a result, the base ceased its functions on September 30, 1997. Management of the facilities was then handed over to the Hill Air Force Base DLA, at which time the official name of the facility changed to Defense Depot Hill Utah (DDHU) Ogden Site.

As early as 1995, the City of Ogden appointed a committee to research the development of the DDHU. Much of this work was towards the conversion of the area into a commercial and industrial park. The Ogden Local Redevelopment Authority (OLRA) is charged with ensuring that the City of Ogden's DDOU Reuse Plan is properly implemented. The transfer of ownership was completed in 2003, giving the facility to Ogden City.

After nearly ten years, and at the expense of $115 million dollars, the DDOU/DDHU became the Business Depot Ogden (BDO). The transition from a former military installation to a commercial park involved many changes to the street layout and buildings.

The local Ogden newspaper, the Ogden Standard-Examiner, moved into a remodeled administrative building in the northeastern side of the BDO, investing in a new and much larger printing press for the new facilities.


Present
The City of Ogden and Boyer Co. entered an agreement early in the conversion process that forced any and all profit from the BDO to be diverted directly into investments in the facilities. This has been instrumental in the continuing expansion and development of the BDO. In October 2006, this agreement will expire, giving Ogden City and Boyer Co. even shares of future profits. In 2004, $7 million in revenue was seen, with an expected increase in 2005.

Several notable Federal facilities continue to operate in the BDO. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) maintains a large facility on site as part of its local network of buildings in the Ogden area. The United States Army Reserve continues to operate in its facilities, and a Deployable Medical Systems (DEPMEDS) unit, responsible for the refurbishment and supply of medical units, operated until 2002, when it moved to Hill Air Force Base.

Commercial facilities on site include, among others, Lofthouse Foods, ION Fitness, Kenco Logistic Services, and the Standard Examiner.

Two new buildings totaling 280,000 square feet and nearing completion have already been partially leased. New road and construction area for several industrial buildings along the park's western border, and a planned 500,000-square-foot cross-dock warehouse will be built on a plot near the center of the park.


Future
The BDO is part of a larger plan to entice business to the Ogden area. As of 2005, there are already more employees in the BDO than there was when the facility was still operating as a defense depot. Both Ogden City and Weber County are investing heavily in the hopes that the BDO will be an important part of the health of the city and county for the next 50 years.

Boyer Co. has plans for both commercial and retail offerings along the busy 12th street border. This should include everything from restaurants to office buildings.


Environmental impact
As part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the DDOU was placed on the National Priorities List. Due to the nature of many of the activities that occurred under the DDOU's military supervision, groundwater and soil contamination are under an ongoing investigation.

Included in this history was the storage of 2,328, 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste in 1993. This was part of an RCRA Part-B permit, issued by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board. These drums were stored in a facility called the Conforming Storage Building. Storage of these materials ended in 1997, and the building was closed.

As part of the transfer of ownership to the OLRA, two Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) documents were developed and approved by state and federal agencies. A total of 544 acres of uncontaminated ground were transferred to the OLRA. Further FOST activities are ongoing, and should eventually result in a nearly complete transfer of properties.

[delts145]

Davis to issue bonds for center

By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News
FARMINGTON — Davis County has the space to expand the Davis Conference Center, and soon will have the money for it.
The Davis County Board of Commissioners voted to issue $9.96 million in sales-tax revenue bonds to help pay for an addition to the center, located in Layton.
"Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Phase two is coming," Commissioner Dannie McConkie said.
Commissioners want to expand the conference center to include exhibition spaces to attract larger conventions and more tourism to Davis County. A feasibility study completed earlier this year found that an expansion would be in the county's economic interest.
The bonds will be sold to New York-based UBS Securities, which placed the lowest of seven bids the county received Tuesday morning. When the bonds close Sept. 26, the county will pocket nearly $10 million, which it plans to pay back at 4.35 percent over 21 years. The county will pay nearly $626,000 a year in principal and interest payments.
Commissioners were pleased to learn that the county received the highest bond rating possible by Standard and Poor's, a AAA rating.
"This is amazing," said Jon Bronson, with Zions Bank Public Finance, who has been advising the county on the bonds for the center. "It is incredibly good. It doesn't get any better than this."
The high rating means the county doesn't need to guarantee its good standing and will save $87,000 in insurance. When the county issued bonds in 2003 for the existing conference center, it had to pay insurance costs.
County officials plan to pay for the bonds, which use sales-tax revenues as collateral, through a recent increase in the county's hotel-room tax, which will bring in an extra $225,000 starting in October.
The rest of the financing for the $12 million expansion will be made up through a $500,000 grant from the Utah Legislature and $225,000 in fee waivers and infrastructure improvements that Layton will provide.
Steve Rawlings, Davis County clerk/auditor, said the county is awaiting design plans for the expansion from the architectural firm that designed the original conference center and could break ground as soon as winter, depending on weather.

[leebuddy]

Does any one live up near the Ogden area? Someone should take some pics of all the new projects going on in downtown Ogden.
If not maybe i'll head up there to take some pics of that old mall site project with the new office buildng and apartments going up.

[leebuddy]

ok i just got buildinggurl's permission to go up to Ogden today to take some pics of projects up there. I'll try to post some later today maybe once we get back. LOL.

Looks like we will hit some road delays while going up there...

:tup:




Road Construction Likely to Cause Major Delays this Weekend
October 20th, 2006 @ 2:57pm

Alex Cabrero Reporting

Presumably, a lot of drivers are going to have to take different routes to get where they need to go this weekend.

All the traffic heading Northbound on I-15 is going onto Riverdale Road, and if you've ever been on Riverdale Road you know it's always busy anyway.


Walk into Dave Gibby's floral shop in Riverdale and you'll find things to make you feel better, things for a big achievement, and things for your loved one. Soon you might also find things to help you smile while sitting in traffic.

Dave Gibby: "It's been horrible ever since they started I-15."

Gibby's shop is just off of Riverdale Road, right near I-15, and with all the construction on the interstate Riverdale Road has become one big stop and go.

Dave Gibby, Gibby Floral: "Every time they close a lane or something like that, then everybody spills out on the surface streets."

That makes delivering flowers on time a little tricky.

Dave Gibby: "Luckily we know all the back roads."


Others should get to know them too. This weekend in Weber County, at night and early morning, I-15 will be totally shutdown. Heading south, it'll detour off at 21st street. Heading North, off at Riverdale Road, same for traffic on I-84.

UDOT says it'll be a mess, but necessary.

Nile Easton, Utah Dept. of Transportation: "When we look at when we can do these things, there is really no good time because, in our growing state, people are driving 24-7 now."

Dave Gibby: "I got a stack of maps here. I stack them here just to help the people who get lost."

As frustrating as it all is, though, even Gibby agrees when the work is done, it'll be worth it.


Dave Gibby: "Thank goodness we got the freeway system. What would happen if we didn't have it? It'd be the pits."

Work being done on the interstate includes new surfaces, new lanes and new bridges.

The closure tonight lasts until 8 tomorrow morning. Then, it closes again at 9pm until 10am. Sunday, it's shut down from 9pm to 5am.

More closures in the future will be necessary as well.

There will also be traffic changes on Hinckley Drive, or 31st street. Traffic will be rerouted to use the new ramps. Expect some abrupt lane changes along I-15 near the 31st street exit. Road crews are widening the road and will shift traffic to the new inside lanes to I-15 while they work on the old part of the road.

There are two other problem areas you need to know about too. In Davis County, starting tonight at 7pm until tomorrow night, traffic on I-15 will narrow to one lane in the Clearfield area for bridge repair. During the same time eastbound on I-215 between State and 20th East will also be down to one lane.

[delts145]

:tup:
Because BuiLDingGurl say's that it gives you a big head.Anyway, the icon's will do!

:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:


p.s. Can't wait for those pic.'s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wasatch_One]

Ogden has an awesome stock of historic buildings... leeBuddy, you should take some pictures of those as well...

[leebuddy]

Ogden has an awesome stock of historic buildings... leeBuddy, you should take some pictures of those as well...


Ogden does have alot of historic buildings. The city has some tall buildings too that were built in the 1930's. I'll be sure to take some pics of those also.

:tup:

[ski82]

I spent my high school years in Ogden and my family still lives there. It hasn't been much fun looking at 2 or 3 Utah-sized blocks in the middle of downtown sit as a dirt lot. I hope the get going (maybe they have?) with the plans. The other thing the need to do in tear down half that parking garage to better connect the new developments with ballpark.

That being said, I think the future of downtown Ogden is bright. The plan of attracting ski-related business is going suprisingly well. If it fully pans out, it is going to give Ogden a unique vibe. The gondola and resort, however, is unnecessary and a good way to destroy a beautiful mountain.

[delts145]

Ski82,

:shrug: I'm not sold either way yet on the gondola. But all those businesses that are ski and sport's and tourist related are banking on it. It will be like making downtown Ogden a main street Park City or Whistler/Blackcomb, only alot bigger. They are anticipating thousands of tourists being carried right from the curb of a vibrant downtown Ogden to the mountain tops, and back down again. Without the gondola, all those world-class plans for Ogden will not happen even close to the level hoped for.


Hmmmmm, I think I just sold myself on the gondola's

[jard]

Hey guys, you may have already said but what is that HUGE project that is under construction near the big mormon church? Right of of Washington street I think? I drove by it on friday night, and it looked HUGE.


PS I like the older buildings in Ogden too - that church is really nice.

-jard

[leebuddy]

:previous:

Yea, that big project is the "Junction" here are some of the pics buildinggurl and i took just today...


http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2138/dsc01798cx0.jpg


Here is where the new Cinema is going to go.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5125/dsc01800nt8.jpg


Soon retail store will go here where this lot is now.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2047/dsc01797ee0.jpg


Here is the new Rec. center. it's getting close to be done.
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7417/dsc01791mk8.jpg


With this project new condos will go in as well.
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2405/dsc01793ey0.jpg


Right behind the Rec. center this is where the new 6-story condo building will go.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8861/dsc01796qq3.jpg


This is where the new 4-story office buildng will go. right now work is being done with the under ground parking.
http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/4571/dsc01794ay6.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2583/dsc01795jm8.jpg

[leebuddy]

Ogden has an awesome stock of historic buildings... leeBuddy, you should take some pictures of those as well...


Ok now here are some of the historic buildings in Ogden...

A welcome sign as we enter into downtown ogden.
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4971/hisogden3my5.jpg


Here is the old wells fargo center building...
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1176/hisogden4wc2.jpg


Here is a closer look of the wells fago building. (Next two pics)
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6817/hisogden2xc4.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1633/5bd5.jpg


Here is a Hotel, not sure what hotel it is. LOL.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1576/6mi7.jpg


And here is the city hall building. it was built in 1939.
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3328/7ii3.jpg


Here are the main doors to the old city hall building...
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1733/hisogden1tr9.jpg


Another view of the city hall builidng looking north.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8776/hisogdenog4.jpg

All three of these old buildings are around 13-stoires tall and all were built during the 1930's. Since then Ogden hasn't had any new highrise buildings built.

[delts145]

So Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That Earnshaw Building/Downtown condo's is incredible looking. What a handsome building. It has a definite 1890's Italianate feel to it. Great Pic's Leebuddy.Thanks alot.

[delts145]

I am so Jazzzzzzzed, MORE PHOTO'S,

Man, I've got to get my butt up to Ogden,and see this stuff for myself.

[jard]

/\ wow, I knew it was a big project, I didn't know it was that big. Congrats to Ogden.

[leebuddy]

On our way up to ogden there is a big project going on at I-15. Looks like some upgrades are taking place as well as maybe adding a few more lines...

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6878/freewaywork5so9.jpg


http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4696/freewaywork4ma4.jpg


http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3592/freewaywork3mw1.jpg


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5710/freewaywork2ap3.jpg


http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8097/freewayworkvv0.jpg

[ski82]

Ski82,

:shrug: I'm not sold either way yet on the gondola. But all those businesses that are ski and sport's and tourist related are banking on it. It will be like making downtown Ogden a main street Park City or Whistler/Blackcomb, only alot bigger. They are anticipating thousands of tourists being carried right from the curb of a vibrant downtown Ogden to the mountain tops, and back down again. Without the gondola, all those world-class plans for Ogden will not happen even close to the level hoped for.


Hmmmmm, I think I just sold myself on the gondola's

I think it is asking too much for people to ride a Gondola from downtown to a resort (in an area that has poor exposure for a ski resort). The ride would be long...very long. And lets be honost, it's not like the bulk of the ride would be through the mountains but rather up a residential street then down Harrison Blvd to Weber State, then up to the resort. To Weber would be 3.5-4 Miles alone. Bottom line, its probably a hour long ride. You can drive to Snowbasin in under 30 min. This is another common misconception, there are no plans to take the gondola to Snowbasin, just to the new resort.

The other thing that makes me upset is the mayor promoting the use of the gondola as mass transit. That just doen't make any sense. The option UTA prefers is streetcars, but the mayor would rather have his gondola.

As for the companies that have moved to Ogden, I doubt many of them put much weight in a plan that is so contriversial and far away from being started.

I don't want to sound like a NIMBY, but I just don't think it makes sense.

As for the pictures... I really need to go check out the mall site over the hollidays. Looking good. I would encourage everyone to make it up to Ogden for a visit. Really a great downtown. 25th St is like Main St in PC without the prices. For a good meal and brew, head to Roosters. There was a good comedy club when I lived in town, too. If you really want to see Ogden's potential, head a few blocks east and you will find some great residential architecture. Some are pretty run down, you can see what can, and will be.

[delts145]

ski82, The points made here would seem to strongly disagree with your concerns. Let's research the existing gondola's in the Alps and Dolomites. I think there might be some European example's which have worked well. It would be good to get a perspective from cities which have used this mode for many years now. Kind of like the new tunnel at Snowbird. It's a new and exotic project for North America, but a long proven mode in Europe. Infact, I think we should write in to the Mayor's office asking for existing set-ups that prove their points. Hmmmm, see how they respond.




Ogden's Proposed Gondola/Resort

The news of a proposed gondola/resort project is generating a lot of interest throughout our community. In an effort to provide answers and facts, we are including the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions.




OGDEN’S PROPOSED GONDOLA/RESORT

The proposed gondola/resort project is generating much interest throughout our community, and unfortunately a lot of misinformation is being circulated. In an effort to provide answers and facts, listed below are the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions.

1. What will happen to our trails and access?

Trails will remain open to the public. In fact, the resort will create more trails and access for the community than exists today. Some foothill trails would be relocated on a dedicated trail through the redesigned golf course.

2. Will roads be constructed up the mountain or in Malan’s Basin?

Chris Peterson, owner of Malan’s Basin, and Ogden City are working on making this a roadless project, even for construction. The use of a construction tram may make this concept feasible.

3. Will Mt. Ogden Golf Course remain available to the public and will fees be prohibitive?

The golf course will remain open to the public and the green fees for Ogden residents will remain in the same range that they are today.

4. Will the parks be preserved, hurt or improved?

The parks will be preserved and improved. There have been many improvements needed at Mt. Ogden Park and Marquardt Park that can now be completed as part of this project. There is some City-owned land east of the golf course that will be included in the golf course sale.

5. What are the benefits for the average person in Ogden?

More trails and improvements to existing trails—1,200 new jobs--$5 million in new annual property tax revenue—more shopping downtown—transit between commuter rail and WSU (less cars on Harrison)—greatly improved Mt. Ogden Golf Course with a locals’ discount to keep green fees in the same area they are today—eliminate losses to golf course ($320,000/year) and greatly reduce, if not eliminate, Conference Center losses (almost $1 million/year)—new recreational opportunities with discounts for Ogden residents.

6. Do the plans include the gondola connecting to Snowbasin?

The plans do involve a leg of the gondola that would go to the top of the mountain, which would allow skiers with a Snowbasin lift ticket to enter Snowbasin. That leg will require an environmental study by the Forest Service to approve, while the rest of the project can be built on private property without Forest Service approval.

7. How will winds affect the gondola?

Gondolas can operate in winds up to 35 miles per hour. Winds in Ogden City are rarely above 35 mph. On the mountain, winds above 35 mph will occasionally cause the gondola to be closed, but few customers should be inconvenienced by these closures because demand for skiing and sightseeing is low on very windy days.

8. Will the gondola be air-conditioned?

They can be if needed, but lift manufacturers, after reviewing our temperature data, don’t believe it will be necessary because they generate a wind of approximately 15mph that will cool the cabins sufficiently in our arid climate.

9. Will neighborhood privacy be protected with the gondola across the city?

The current plans have the gondola averaging 40 feet above ground level. From that height, riders will be looking at trees and rooftops. We have pictures that show what the view is like along the route from that height.

10. What are the advantages and disadvantages for Weber State University?

Advantages: This will make Weber the only university in the world that is connected to a ski resort. Students and faculty could literally ski between classes. They will receive international exposure as a result. This could easily bring 1,000 new students from out of state, which would bring more than $9 million per year of new revenue from tuition.

It also provides additional money that can be used to complete the university’s master plan. The old McKay-Dee property could be purchased with this money and parking garages could be constructed on campus to provide more parking and allow for some existing parking to be used for new buildings.

Disadvantages: Weber will receive international exposure and that could change the “commuter college” reputation. Students and faculty could ski between classes (worse grades perhaps!).

11. Will construction of the gondola require a strip swath of bare ground up the mountain?

The visual impact of the gondola will be minimal. There will certainly need to be some things cleared along the way, but new technology allows for a much more discrete construction.

12. Could a gondola across town coexist with the current bus system or a streetcar, which might be constructed in 15-20 years? What advantage would the gondola have over a streetcar system?

Yes, the gondola could easily coexist with a streetcar or bus technology. The advantages of the gondola are that it doesn’t take a lane of traffic in each direction (cars can travel over the tracks, but the streetcar’s average speed is only 20 mph), its total travel time is faster and it costs about one-fourth as much to build. The people of Ogden would have to come up with $50 million for a streetcar and the Federal government would have to be willing to pay for the other $50 million.

13. Are there other business people considering further investment if the project moves forward?

The city is receiving visits weekly from people who are going to invest in Ogden if this project moves forward. They will bring jobs, retail shopping and recreation to our community.

14. What is the total potential investment?

This project will easily surpass a half-billion dollars when completed. This does not include the investment that will be made by others as a result of this project.

15. What effect is the “ski hub” concept having on economic development in our community?

Already six ski companies have announced their move to Ogden. A seventh will announce in April. Investors are coming from all over the country to look at downtown for potential properties.

16. Who benefits from these investments?

Everyone will benefit. Even if you don’t ride the gondola, ski, hike, mountain bike, rock climb or anything else that will be offered, you will benefit from the tax money that will come in (most of which will go to our schools). Everyone will also benefit from the additional retail shopping that will come to downtown. The 1,200 new jobs that will come will be of benefit to those of low income as well as college graduates, looking to stay in Ogden. The economic prosperity of our community is the proverbial rising tide that will lift all boats.

17. Why have the cross-city gondola go down streets including Harrison Blvd.?

It is the most cost-effective route and provides the least interruption to the community while serving the transit needs it’s designed to achieve.

18. What about drainage and flood concerns relative to the Malan’s Basin changes?

There will be careful environmental engineering as part of this project to assure there is no adverse flooding affect.

19. What is the difference between a tram and a gondola?

A tram has two big cabins that travel in opposite directions along the same cable loop. They only travel every 20 minutes or so. The gondola is a much smaller 8-passenger cabin that is about 30 seconds apart. They can carry far more people per hour and offer a much better traveling experience, since you can get on the gondola with only those you are traveling with.

20. How will the gondolas be paid for and maintained?

The gondola will be operated and maintained by Chris Peterson.

21. Will restrictive covenants relative to the building on the property be followed?

There will be very strict guidelines governing the development of this project to assure it is attractive and fits in well with the natural environment.

22. Will the gondolas be accessible to the disabled?

Yes, it will be fully ADA compliant.

23. What will be the cost to the riders of the gondolas?

Right now, the goal is to have the downtown gondola be in the same price range as a UTA bus pass. The mountain pass will probably be in the $10-$15 range for one-time use. There will be seasonal passes and local passes at significant discounts.

24. Are there any environmental benefits to the proposed plan?

There are many environmental benefits to the plan including less carbon monoxide in the air as a result of the downtown gondola. It provides the ability for Snowbasin patrons to use the gondola and not drive to the resort. If this happens with just 10 percent of their customers, it will reduce acres of parking, as well as eliminating approximately 15,000 pounds of emissions in the air per year.





4345 Reads

[delts145]

Things to consider when planning your sking vacation:

how to find or contact us:

:D For more information on skiing anywhere in the world, or to book -

- send me an e-mail at info@sailski.com or fax to 905 842 7203

- or give me a call toll free 1-888-775-2581


If you're thinking about a skiing holiday, whether it's for a family ski vacation, a ski trip for two or just yourself, flying, driving or other means of getting there (even a day or side trip when you're away on business), we'd be happy to help you plan your trips. Our travel agency, Ultimate Destinations travel agency specializes in ski vacations.

As a ski writer with more than 50 years of skiing experience, Ed Pollock has personally visited and skied at many, if not most of the major ski areas in the Alps, eastern & western Canada and the U.S. including Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New York, Utah, Vermont, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

Ed not only can help you select the ski area with the slopes, accommodation and ambience you are looking for, but can also help you get the best value to enjoy the best experience for your ski holidays' dollar.

There are so many things to consider, selecting the right ski package isn't easy. What makes it even more difficult is trying to find out what the different ski packages include, in order to figure out the total cost of the ski trip , , ,

ski pass? -- none, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days? -- for one small area or many big areas?

number of runs? -- novice, intermediate & expert?

type & number of lifts? -- altitude, verticals & lengths?

snowmaking? -- night skiing? -- grooming?

ski equipment rentals?

hotel?-- 4, 5, 6 or 7 nights? -- 2, 3, 4 or 5 star?

location? town, village or boondocks? -- character (modern, traditional or blah)?

single supplement (if alone)?

escort? -- ski area guide? -- instruction?

meals -- none, continental breakfasts, buffet breakfasts, dinners?

times? -- mid-week or week-end travel? -- flight times, both going & returning?

transfers? -- to and from airport and around ski area or car rental?

apres-ski? -- for some people, this is as important as the skiing.


Ask Ed for the answers. If he can't tell you off-hand, he can find out for you.

Some of the very best places to ski:

In EUROPE, many if not most of the ski areas, hotels, restaurants and shops are owned and staffed by local people. Most of the families have owned the property and lived there for many, many years. They are genuine local people who like and depend on visitors and want them to return again, year after year. Visitors are treated as guests. (Unlike in North America, where most major ski resorts are owned by corporations with itinerant skier employees.)

:shrug: Major ski areas in the Alps have longer runs with greater vertical height than North American, with more snowmaking, better grooming and far more aerial trams, cable-cars, and gondola lifts.

[Utaaah!]

Thanks for the pics, Lee -- you're awesome!!! Since I've moved away I can't take pics, but I will continue to follow Ogden news and post interesting tidbits in this thread. It would be fantastic if you or another forumer could get up there once in a while to take pics so that expatriates from the Republic of Utah like myself and ski82 can follow the progress visually. I agree that Ogden has a lot of good, old architecture. Next time you're up that direction, check out 25th Street, Union Station, St. Joseph's Cathedral, and Adams Avenue (they've restored some historic mansions and resurrected the historic trolley tracks along a couple blocks east of down town). Thanks again, and keep up the good work!

[ski82]

OGDEN’S PROPOSED GONDOLA/RESORT

The proposed gondola/resort project is generating much interest throughout our community, and unfortunately a lot of misinformation is being circulated. In an effort to provide answers and facts, listed below are the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions.

1. What will happen to our trails and access?

Trails will remain open to the public. In fact, the resort will create more trails and access for the community than exists today. Some foothill trails would be relocated on a dedicated trail through the redesigned golf course.

Trails through golf courses are just what the Ogden residents need. Currently, those trails go through undisturbed foothills.

2. Will roads be constructed up the mountain or in Malan’s Basin?

Chris Peterson, owner of Malan’s Basin, and Ogden City are working on making this a roadless project, even for construction. The use of a construction tram may make this concept feasible.

I still don’t understand how they are going to ignore fire codes, or heard their plan on doing so. Or maybe we could have sweet new firefighting gondolas

3. Will Mt. Ogden Golf Course remain available to the public and will fees be prohibitive?

The golf course will remain open to the public and the green fees for Ogden residents will remain in the same range that they are today.


4. Will the parks be preserved, hurt or improved?

The parks will be preserved and improved. There have been many improvements needed at Mt. Ogden Park and Marquardt Park that can now be completed as part of this project. There is some City-owned land east of the golf course that will be included in the golf course sale.

I don’t know enough on this particular matter to comment. Who owns what land, etc.

5. What are the benefits for the average person in Ogden?

More trails and improvements to existing trails—1,200 new jobs--$5 million in new annual property tax revenue—more shopping downtown—transit between commuter rail and WSU (less cars on Harrison)—greatly improved Mt. Ogden Golf Course with a locals’ discount to keep green fees in the same area they are today—eliminate losses to golf course ($320,000/year) and greatly reduce, if not eliminate, Conference Center losses (almost $1 million/year)—new recreational opportunities with discounts for Ogden residents.

So it sounds like all the tax revenue is coming from the sale and redevelopment of the golf course (which I don’t have as much a problem with). Why is this a package deal? Why not sale the course and build a streetcar with the proceeds? Clearly, the mayor is selling an ‘if A, then B’ proposal when A and B are completely different issues.

6. Do the plans include the gondola connecting to Snowbasin?

The plans do involve a leg of the gondola that would go to the top of the mountain, which would allow skiers with a Snowbasin lift ticket to enter Snowbasin. That leg will require an environmental study by the Forest Service to approve, while the rest of the project can be built on private property without Forest Service approval.

I am planning on being a billionaire one day too. Not much merit here. It is easy to say they have plans to grow even more support. Snowbasin has said they want nothing to do with this project and Peterson is Earl Holding son-in-law…kinda makes things more sketchy and raises more questions.

7. How will winds affect the gondola?

Gondolas can operate in winds up to 35 miles per hour. Winds in Ogden City are rarely above 35 mph. On the mountain, winds above 35 mph will occasionally cause the gondola to be closed, but few customers should be inconvenienced by these closures because demand for skiing and sightseeing is low on very windy days.

1: Windy days are very common on Mt. Ogden, esp in the winter.
2: Windy days mean lost revenue
3: What about skiers who go up and get stranded on the mountain due to wind.

8. Will the gondola be air-conditioned?

They can be if needed, but lift manufacturers, after reviewing our temperature data, don’t believe it will be necessary because they generate a wind of approximately 15mph that will cool the cabins sufficiently in our arid climate.


9. Will neighborhood privacy be protected with the gondola across the city?

The current plans have the gondola averaging 40 feet above ground level. From that height, riders will be looking at trees and rooftops. We have pictures that show what the view is like along the route from that height.

No concern…and I admit, it would be kinda cool to have a gondola going through a neighborhood

10. What are the advantages and disadvantages for Weber State University?

Advantages: This will make Weber the only university in the world that is connected to a ski resort. Students and faculty could literally ski between classes. They will receive international exposure as a result. This could easily bring 1,000 new students from out of state, which would bring more than $9 million per year of new revenue from tuition.

It also provides additional money that can be used to complete the university’s master plan. The old McKay-Dee property could be purchased with this money and parking garages could be constructed on campus to provide more parking and allow for some existing parking to be used for new buildings.

Disadvantages: Weber will receive international exposure and that could change the “commuter college” reputation. Students and faculty could ski between classes (worse grades perhaps!).

I love the disadvantages…how could you live with that? Lol. This is the best part about the project is that it puts WSU on the map, and it would suddenly become a “cool” school for many coming from out of state.

11. Will construction of the gondola require a strip swath of bare ground up the mountain?

The visual impact of the gondola will be minimal. There will certainly need to be some things cleared along the way, but new technology allows for a much more discrete construction.

Don’t know enough about the sightlines to comment. I do know, however that the are building it over the waterfall in Waterfall Canyon, one of the city’s most unique aspects.

12. Could a gondola across town coexist with the current bus system or a streetcar, which might be constructed in 15-20 years? What advantage would the gondola have over a streetcar system?

Yes, the gondola could easily coexist with a streetcar or bus technology. The advantages of the gondola are that it doesn’t take a lane of traffic in each direction (cars can travel over the tracks, but the streetcar’s average speed is only 20 mph), its total travel time is faster and it costs about one-fourth as much to build. The people of Ogden would have to come up with $50 million for a streetcar and the Federal government would have to be willing to pay for the other $50 million.

A gondola is not mass transit. You would have no stops between downtown and Weber (maybe one). A gondola would coexist but in no way compliment the other systems. I had previously heard that the cost of the streetcar was twice that of the gondola. If that is the case, sell the golf course (50 mil) and get the federal grants (50 mil). Weird how the gondola wont be able to get grants... maybe because its not viable transportation.

13. Are there other business people considering further investment if the project moves forward?

These businesses are already coming to the city…and most the employees, once the move to Ogden and see the outdoor opportunities on the bench, they are probably against the gondola.

14. What is the total potential investment?

This project will easily surpass a half-billion dollars when completed. This does not include the investment that will be made by others as a result of this project.

15. What effect is the “ski hub” concept having on economic development in our community?

Already six ski companies have announced their move to Ogden. A seventh will announce in April. Investors are coming from all over the country to look at downtown for potential properties.

Again, none of the companies that have come to Ogden or have announced coming to Ogden took much if any weight in a very contraversial plan and one that isn't even close to being started.

16. Who benefits from these investments?

Everyone will benefit. Even if you don’t ride the gondola, ski, hike, mountain bike, rock climb or anything else that will be offered, you will benefit from the tax money that will come in (most of which will go to our schools). Everyone will also benefit from the additional retail shopping that will come to downtown. The 1,200 new jobs that will come will be of benefit to those of low income as well as college graduates, looking to stay in Ogden. The economic prosperity of our community is the proverbial rising tide that will lift all boats.

17. Why have the cross-city gondola go down streets including Harrison Blvd.?

It is the most cost-effective route and provides the least interruption to the community while serving the transit needs it’s designed to achieve.

Streetcars = transit, not gondola. Just imagine a successful streetcar in Ogden. The press Ogden would get for something like that in a city its size. Can you say trend setter?

18. What about drainage and flood concerns relative to the Malan’s Basin changes?

There will be careful environmental engineering as part of this project to assure there is no adverse flooding affect.

This makes it sound like environmental studies are a minor part of any project, including ones built on the middle of an undeveloped mountain (including the SB leg). But hey, if they get to that point and get by it, all the power to them. Has anyone else ever been hiking up around Malan’s? Not much buildable area up there.

19. What is the difference between a tram and a gondola?

A tram has two big cabins that travel in opposite directions along the same cable loop. They only travel every 20 minutes or so. The gondola is a much smaller 8-passenger cabin that is about 30 seconds apart. They can carry far more people per hour and offer a much better traveling experience, since you can get on the gondola with only those you are traveling with.

20. How will the gondolas be paid for and maintained?

The gondola will be operated and maintained by Chris Peterson.

So wait, Peterson is buying the golf course, Ogden is going to use the money to build the lift, but Peterson operates and maintains it?

21. Will restrictive covenants relative to the building on the property be followed?

There will be very strict guidelines governing the development of this project to assure it is attractive and fits in well with the natural environment.

22. Will the gondolas be accessible to the disabled?

Yes, it will be fully ADA compliant.

23. What will be the cost to the riders of the gondolas?

Right now, the goal is to have the downtown gondola be in the same price range as a UTA bus pass. The mountain pass will probably be in the $10-$15 range for one-time use. There will be seasonal passes and local passes at significant discounts.

So your telling me a family of 4 would take the lift for $40-60 above driving to the mountain and back for $10 gas and half the time? The only people I know who can afford that don’t ride "mass transit."

24. Are there any environmental benefits to the proposed plan?

There are many environmental benefits to the plan including less carbon monoxide in the air as a result of the downtown gondola. It provides the ability for Snowbasin patrons to use the gondola and not drive to the resort. If this happens with just 10 percent of their customers, it will reduce acres of parking, as well as eliminating approximately 15,000 pounds of emissions in the air per year.

Is that net of the CO2 => O2 that will be lost from cutting down trees?


Can you think of any other mountain town that would support this plan? Geograhically, Ogden is much like Boulder, CO. If such a thing like this was even legal in Boulder, I would love to see the reaction of those crazy hippies. Mountains are what make these areas special and they should be protected.

Three Final thoughts:
1) The companies who came to Ogden didn't do so becasue of some plan. And can continue to be successful with out it. Kudos to the city and mayor for getting these companies and jobs.
2) There are better transit options that can put Ogden on the map as well. Streetcar anyone?
3) The plan itself hasn't been revealed all that much. Still many questions. The development thusfar has involved very few people, not just developers and politians. The resort is also in a bad location with poor exposure for snowsports.

[delts145]

So Peterson is Billionaire,Earl Holding's son-in-law. I hadn't realized that. Now this is starting to make alot of sense. If anyone can pull this whole mega-resort thing off and make Ogden an even bigger ski town than Whistler/Blackcomb it would be the Holdings. It would take a Billionaire family to fast-track this thing. At least we know that if the Holding's are involved they will be very passionate about it and it will be top-notch all the way.

[Wasatch_One]

I love the Ogden City hall... its one of the few expamples of Art Deco in Utah...
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8776/hisogdenog4.jpg

and I looooooove this hotel for some odd reason
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1576/6mi7.jpg

[Utaaah!]

Here's a nice, brief profile of Ogden's young, enthusiastic mayor. He's initiated and promoted some radical ideas (such as the gondola, extensive redevelopment, etc.) that upset the old stodgy NIMBYs, but I think he's done a lot of good for the city and the state. I wonder if he'll move onto a larger stage after his current term in office.


Utah magazine upbeat about Ogden's future

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

By Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net

Mayor Godfrey chosen as state economic player


OGDEN -- A Salt Lake City business magazine has ranked Mayor Matthew Godfrey as one of 25 Utahns responsible for driving the state's economy.

Godfrey will be featured in an article in the December edition of Connect Magazine.

The article will tout Godfrey's role in revitalizing Ogden through projects such as The Junction, a retail, recreational and residential development being built downtown and helping to establish Ogden as a burgeoning hub for the snow-sports industry.

"Mayor Godfrey is well-liked and respected by many of Utah's business community members. His future plans and current accomplishments for Ogden's economic growth are often praised as visionary," said Colin Kelly Jr. senior editor of Connect Magazine.

"Utah's business community recognizes that we can't raise state and local taxes much beyond current levels. The sorely needed additional revenue for government and education must come from sustained long-term economic growth. Mayor Godfrey gets that."

Godfrey finished fifth in an online poll conducted by Connect Magazine to determine which 25 individuals had the most impact on promoting business and growing Utah's economy in 2006. About 700 people responded to the survey.

The top four spots in the poll went to Gov. Jon Huntsman, Sports and Entertainment mogul Larry Miller, billionaire and father of the governor, Jon Huntsman Sr., and Scott Anderson, chief executive officer of Zion' Bank.

Godfrey said he is pleased and surprised to be included with those on the top 25 list. "It's a great honor to be lumped in with that group," he said.

Mike Ostermiller, president of the Weber/North Davis Association of Realtors, said Godfrey deserves to be on the list.

"What I appreciate about Mayor Godfrey is that he doesn't think or act like a regular politician," he said. "He is not afraid of being criticized and is all about doing what he feels is best for Ogden and in driving the economy. He's fearless and tireless."

The nomination process for the top 25 list occurred in the last two weeks of August. About 250 people were nominated by Connect Magazine readers. Final voting took place via an online poll in early September.

Godfrey's mention in next month's edition of Connect Magazine won't be the first time the publication has highlighted Ogden. In May, the magazine's cover story featured the city's success in luring high-tech manufacturing firms such as Adam Aircraft and Fresenius Medical Care as well as several snow-sports companies.

Connect's Utah business leaders, top 20

Jon Huntsman Jr. - Utah governor
Larry Miller - Larry H. Miller Group
Jon Huntsman Sr. - Huntsman Corp.
Scott Anderson - CEO Zions Bank
Matthew Godfrey - Ogden mayor
Alan Hall - chairman, Grow Utah Ventures
Lane Beatie - Salt Lake Chamber president
Greg Butterfield - CEO Altiris
Fred Lampropoulos - CEO Merit Medical
Jack Brittain - Dean, U of U Business School
Dinesh Patel - managing partner vSpring Capital
Paul Allen - founder, Provo Labs
Bob Garff - Garff Enterprises
Fraser Bullock - managing director, Sorenson Capital
Ragula Bhaskar - CEO FatPipe Networks
Betsy Burton - The King's English Bookshop, co-founder/president
James Dreyfous - managing director, UV Partners
David Simmons - CEO, Simmons Media Group
Greg Warnock - managing director, vSpring Capital/Mercato Partners
Harris Simmons - chairman, Zions Bancorporation

[Utaaah!]

I wish they would have built in Boyer's portion of The Junction -- the mixed-use reincarnation of the former Ogden City Mall that JC Penney abandoned several years ago.

JCPenney to return to Weber County with new off-mall format

By Debbi Taylor
The Enterprise

After months of speculation, J. C. Penney Co. Inc. has signed a letter of intent with both The Boyer Co. and Big-D Construction to build a free-standing store in Riverdale.

The Riverdale JCPenney store will mark the company's return to Weber County. It closed its store in the Ogden City Mall six years ago. The new store will be built in the company's new off-mall format and will be 100,000 square foot single-level free-standing store.

"Our off-mall stores have exceeded our expectations, generating higher sales per square foot than our mall-based stores and more frequent visits by customers," said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, J. C. Penney chairman and chief executive officer. "We have a unique advantage in that our off-mall department stores provide a neighborhood presence that offers convenience and accessibility for mid-week shopping, while complementing our mall stores, which continue to be a weekend and holiday shopping destination."

To be located at approximately 4181 Riverdale Road, JCPenney will be part of a 200,000 square foot, 17-acre retail center called Riverdale Center.

[delts145]

Utaaah,

:tup: :tup: Really enjoyed your article's this morning from the Examiner and the Enterprise. I noticed the same thing the other day with JC Penney. I was out West Jordon way and noticed a big new free standing, JC Penney store at that new shopping area off of Bangerter. I've also noticed the same kind of thing happening all over the Wasatch Front in the new generation shopping district's like The Meadows in Am. Fork. Anyone, who is interested in real-estate development should visit The Meadows. There are some really cool feature's there. I especially like the round-about's, and bridges over the wetland's. It's right off of I-15 at the first Am. Fork exit that you come to. Anyway, there are alot of freestanding stores like Kohl's,Sears,etc arranged in that development.
You know, I was really glad to see the Mervyn's store leave Crossroads. I know for a fact alot of people in Nordstrom management and also City Hall were very elated. I have nothing against a Mervyn's or a JC Penney. I just think they are more appropriate at a location like the suburbs, where large families etc. are shopping. I remember when a substantial amount of the Nordstrom businesss downtown came from out-of-state visitor's. In a place like the core of downtown Salt Lake or "the new and upcoming, shiek,(courtesy of people like Holding Oil and Mayor Godfrey) downtown Ogden", a more upscale establishment like Nordstrom,or Sak's is much more attractive to the tourist and convention industry.
Although, I would bet that as downtown Salt Lake densifies with working folk there will be more demand for stores like Mervyn's and JC Penney. I guess there's alot of talk about a Target in or around Gateway,which I think makes good sense.
Just some thought's, What do you think?

Thanks again for bringing us this great site,

Delts

[Utaaah!]

I agree that downtowns need to offer something unique that you can't find in the suburbs to bring in suburbanites and visitors. However, downtown retail also needs to serve the needs of close-in residents. I don't shop at Saks, Nordy's, or Nieman Marcus (although the original flagship store is only a couple blocks from my office and is the only significant retailer in DT Dallas). I would and do shop at Mervyns, JC Penny, Sears, etc. I guess I'm just cheap.

[leebuddy]

How did my name end up on this list?


Connect's Utah business leaders, top 20

Jon Huntsman Jr. - Utah governor
Larry Miller - Larry H. Miller Group
Jon Huntsman Sr. - Huntsman Corp.
Scott Anderson - CEO Zions Bank
Matthew Godfrey - Ogden mayor
LeeBuddy - Skyscraper Nerd
Lane Beatie - Salt Lake Chamber president
Greg Butterfield - CEO Altiris
Fred Lampropoulos - CEO Merit Medical
Jack Brittain - Dean, U of U Business School
Dinesh Patel - managing partner vSpring Capital
Paul Allen - founder, Provo Labs
Bob Garff - Garff Enterprises
Fraser Bullock - managing director, Sorenson Capital
Ragula Bhaskar - CEO FatPipe Networks
Betsy Burton - The King's English Bookshop, co-founder/president
James Dreyfous - managing director, UV Partners
David Simmons - CEO, Simmons Media Group
Greg Warnock - managing director, vSpring Capital/Mercato Partners
Harris Simmons - chairman, Zions Bancorporation[/QUOTE]

[delts145]

Hey, you're not cheap,just smart. If I can get a perfectly good but previously worn Armani on E-bay for a small fraction of the original price, then I'll take it. I'm a firm believer in not paying full retail. I never pay over 1.69lb for boneless-skinless chicken breasts, and on and on. The problem with downtown Salt Lake is it doesn't have the density of close-in resident's who would shop at or support a lower end department store in the temple square vicinity. However, there are many locally unique stores,like Mr.Mac which will continue to do well amongst both close-in residents and visitor's alike. Also, the new generation of big box retailer's such as Target would probably do well somewhere around Gateway.
You brought up an important point about Dallas. It's interesting that so many downtown's of very large metro's like Dallas/Ft.Worth or Los Angeles don't have a much larger cache of Department Stores. Is Houston the same?
Of couse, all the major metro's have large surrounding mall's/lifestyle center's with prestige retailer's,but usually not downtown. Downtown Salt Lake will be amongst a small crowd of cities nationwide in five years. When all is done with City Creek there will be four to six major department stores in the immediate downtown vicinity. Nordstrom,Macy's,(yet unamed: Sak's,Dillard's,Bloomy's),Sears and probably Target. I still think that if the ski and tourist industry in Salt Lake keeps soaring we'll see two more upscale department stores at the City Creek Center.

[delts145]

I agree that downtowns need to offer something unique that you can't find in the suburbs to bring in suburbanites and visitors. However, downtown retail also needs to serve the needs of close-in residents. I don't shop at Saks, Nordy's, or Nieman Marcus (although the original flagship store is only a couple blocks from my office and is the only significant retailer in DT Dallas). I would and do shop at Mervyns, JC Penny, Sears, etc. I guess I'm just cheap.


:tup: :tup: Utaaah, I thought you may find this article of interest. Macy's of course will have a major presence at the downtown City Creek Center. They have a good reputation for straddling both the upscale and bargain conscious public.

You know, I would lay odds that if the plan to make downtown Ogden a world-class resort go through, that Macy's and Nordstrom will return.


Macy's planning big party

Lots of events are on tap for firm's official Utah openings

Excerpt's from article:
By Jenifer K. Nii
Deseret Morning News
When Macy's opens its doors for business, it'll be dressed in its party clothes, serenaded, offering drinks and treats and games for the kids.

Ravell Call,
Deseret Morning News
The former Meier and Frank store at the ZCMI Center has been gearing up for the official opening as a Macy's store and will have new product lines. The host of the events will be Macy's Northwest chairman and chief executive officer, Jeff Gennette.
"Utah is a very important market for us," Gennette told the Deseret Morning News in a phone interview from the division's headquarters in Seattle. "The Salt Lake market is a big opportunity for us, and I wanted to be there" for the official opening of Macy's in Utah.
Macy's parent company, Federated Department Stores, completed its $11 billion purchase of The May Co. in 2005. That acquisition doubled Federated's size to more than 800 stores.
The, "Red Carpet & Ribbon-Cutting Celebration" included remarks from Gennette, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The event featured cider, cake, live entertainment and activities for children.
More than that, though, Gennette said the event marked the beginning of what Macy's hopes will be a new and satisfying relationship for consumers looking for mid- and upscale clothes, shoes, accessories, gifts and the like. Which, according to Gennette, is something Meier & Frank didn't adequately provide in Utah.
"It's no secret that (Meier & Frank) was a more robust business when it was ZCMI," Gennette said. "Over the last five years, it diminished to a point where we believe we have a tremendous opportunity for growth."
Macy's has been out stumping hard in the run-up to Saturday's re-launch, promising noticeable improvements in the merchandise quality, presentation and service offered at its stores.
Deseret Morning News graphic "We're a department store, but what Macy's really strives for is that our products are differentiated and unique," Gennette said. "Hopefully, customers who have been in our stores in the last few weeks have experienced an environment that was less cluttered, more easily navigated and discernible."
Macy's has "edited" its assortment of merchandise — the majority of which, including private labels, will be new to Meier & Frank faithful — to make shopping a "more inspiring" experience for customers, Gennette said.
And that merchandise will be tailored on a store-by-store basis to fit the needs of individual communities.
"We are big on making sure that the assortment we offer is specific to each building," Gennette said. "If you walk into Layton Hills Mall versus Riverdale versus Cottonwood Mall versus Salt Lake, you should see a difference."
Also, Federated rolled out a new advertising and marketing campaign, said to be the largest in the company's history. Block parties and shopping parties are scheduled in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and El Paso over the weekend, and parades are scheduled in Chicago and 20 other cities leading up to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November.
"This is the beginning," Gennette said. "I think in a lot of cases people expect that we'll show up for this, and then pack up our bags and go home, but that's not the case at all. We expect this to be the start of a very active relationship, the beginning of what I hope will be a beautiful marriage."

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By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News

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LAYTON — "The whole morass was animated with multitudes of waterfowl, which appeared to be very wild — rising for the space of a mile around about at the sound of a gun with a noise like distant thunder." That's how John C. Fremont described what he saw when he came to the Great Salt Lake for the first time in September of 1843.
Every spring and fall, migratory birds in the millions pass though the lake's wetlands during their worldwide treks. But because of growth and encroaching development since the mid-1800s, the wetlands have shrunk, and so have bird populations.
"Nearly 60 percent of the historic wetlands in the river basins in and around the Great Salt Lake have already been lost," said Dave Livermore, Utah director of The Nature Conservancy.
The Nature Conservancy is the largest private owner of wetlands in Davis County with the 5,000-acre Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve that runs along 16.5 miles of shoreline.
The preserve is home to a sea of cattails and features a one-mile round-trip boardwalk that leads to an observation tower that visitors can use to spot birds and learn about wetlands habitat.
A recent project on Kays Creek, which feeds about 10,000 acres of wetlands on the east side of the preserve, is working to bring birds back to the wetlands.
So far, it's working.
Kays Creek is a 10-mile stream that drains three canyons in the Layton area. In many spots you can jump over it. It's hidden most of the time by trees that grow along its banks. And you don't see it except when you drive by it or live nearby.
Much of the natural habitat upstream and downstream has disappeared, but downstream is where things have begun to change.
About 60 years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged out a 10-by-10-foot channel for the last mile of the creek to help divert storm water from neighborhoods.
It was a ditch, good for moving water but not much else, says Jeff McCreary, a regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited, a waterfowl conservation organization.
Over the past seven years, Duck Unlimited has been working with The Nature Conservancy to redesign the last mile of the creek to turn it into what it once was: productive habitat.
"If you miss the opportunity to protect these areas, it costs a lot of money to put them back," McCreary said.
With $350,000 in donations from the Hemingway Foundation, Utah Wetlands Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Bechtel Foundation, and a federal grant, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy got to planning, and they touted their success with a tour of the restored Kays Creek Sept. 15.
Where once was a grassland with a ditch running through it are now five ponds fed by a meandering stream with natural willows and cottonwoods growing in the banks. A bonus for those who worked on the project is that the plant life came back on its own.
McCreary said the stream is "as close as we're ever going to get to what used to be out here."
To get to this point, engineers and managers alike had to play Mother Nature.
They hired a lot of heavy equipment in 2004, said Chris Brown, manager of the conservancy's 5,000-acre Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton.
With a yellow cavalry of bulldozers, backhoes and dump trucks, workers reshaped the drainage ditch into a natural-looking stream bed with a shallow slope that will still accommodate storm runoff.
They piled earth to make 20 acres of ponds that Brown can raise or lower depending on what species of bird needs a boost.
Mike Terry, Deseret Morning NewsJeff McCreary of Ducks Unlimited speaks with members of conservation groups about the restoration of the last mile of Kays Creek as productive habitat. Ducks like deep water, he explained, but shorebirds, like black-necked stilts, need shallow water. Simply by adding a board to a drainage gate, Brown can raise the water level in a particular pond 18 inches.
Brown said he doesn't expect to take an active part in managing the ponds for the next year or so. He wants to see what happens.
The winter work was so torturously cold, Brown said, that sometimes he wondered why he put himself through it. Now that he sees changes every day in the habitat, the hard work was worth it.
"Where I used to just see birds occasionally flying overhead, this spring I recorded thousands of them nesting and feeding on the newly expanded wetland habitat and ponds," Brown said.
He has counted 176 avocet nests and 5,000 pintails, a species of duck.
Plovers, godwits, avocets, stilts, sandhill cranes and tundra swans use the ponds.
"The bird use has been far more than I expected," Brown said.
McCreary is jubilant.
"The reason this project succeeded is because of a unique collaboration between conservation biology and engineering," he said. "We created a science-based plan to re-create the types of native habitat that Kays Creek would have offered these birds before decades of human impacts."
Bird populations may never reach numbers like what Fremont saw and heard — noise like distant thunder — but McCreary expects populations to skyrocket over the next few years.
Since March 2005, when that first trickle of water began to flow over a small concrete dam designed to not get clogged with debris, Brown has begun thinking of his next project, which he hopes will be similar to the Kays Creek project, only on the north end of the preserve.


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Work to begin on HAFB business park

By Joseph M. Dougherty and Stephen Speckman
Deseret Morning News

A 550-acre parcel on Hill Air Force Base's west side that has been "underutilized" for over 60 years is a step closer to becoming a business and technology park, Hill officials announced this week.
It's uncertain when construction will begin, but the first phase will include a 44-acre space and missile complex, with office space for about 2,000 government and contractor employees, base officials said in a press release. Commercial businesses are also expected to be part of the first phase.
The development will stretch over four cities' boundaries: Clearfield, Sunset, Roy and Riverdale, according to Clearfield Mayor Don Wood. Clearfield and Roy will likely be home to the two largest parcels of development.
A private company will oversee construction of all buildings and eventually lease the facilities back to the Air Force and other defense-related and commercial businesses.
The entire "west-side development project" could take 20 years to complete, according to a Hill official.

Doug Clark, managing director of business growth in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, said the location will be one of the most efficient in the state for future employment.
The land sits alongside Interstate 15 and is close to Interstate 84 and a future commuter-rail line. By localizing some of the jobs for which Davis County residents currently commute outside of the county, there could be shorter commutes, Clark said in the news release.
Wood said the project is designed to give the base some new office space and replace some deteriorating buildings. The people who will work in new offices will need to eat, and Wood said the development would likely include some restaurants, which would increase sales-tax revenue for the cities. There's also a potential of a motel coming to town, Wood said.
"It helps put the city in a better light in terms of being economically viable and being able to sustain retail and businesses," Wood said.
Clearfield city manager Chris Hillman said Wednesday that his city's knowledge about the project is limited right now, but he looks forward to meeting with neighboring cities and Hill administrators to find out more.

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Building in Utah's flood, landslide areas poses risks

By Doug Smeath
Deseret Morning News

In late April, Brad Hall was anxiously keeping an eye on his $500,000 home in Mountain Green, Morgan County, monitoring cracking foundations and a bowing back deck and wondering how far the ground supporting his foundation would slide during this year's wet season.
An 80-foot-wide mudslide in South Weber on April 10 wreaked havoc when it crashed into a home, hurling 4-year-old Kendell Keyes against a wall as she watched TV and breaking her leg. Just down Weber Canyon in South Weber, 4-year-old Kendell Keyes was recovering from a broken leg she suffered after a torrent of mud 80 feet wide swept down the hillside behind her family's home, crashing into the house and throwing the girl against a wall as she watched TV.
Farther south, in South Jordan's river bottoms, Andy and Jeanette Meisenbacher were at work cleaning up their soggy basement and filling their yard with wells and drainage channels to avoid a repeat of the floods that filled their basement and those of two nearby homes in March. The water came from rising groundwater as spring runoff seeped from the western reaches of the valley toward the Jordan River.
This year, the Utah Geological Survey was watching at least 50 landslides from Utah County to Morgan County, many of them near housing developments. The disasters are not just an anomaly due to this year's wet spring. After rain and snowmelt last May, a dramatic landslide in Cedar Hills, Utah County, crashed into some hillside townhouses, forcing four families to move. And in St. George in January 2005, helpless residents watched as homes washed away in the flooded Virgin and Santa Clara rivers.
For homeowners, such disasters are distressing and frustrating. "It was just like they were in a nightmare," said Trudy Keyes, Kendell Keyes' aunt.
As growth brings more and more families to Utah, new housing developments are popping up throughout the state — sometimes in places that once may have seemed off limits. From the homes perched atop Traverse Mountain in Draper's SunCrest neighborhood to east-bench homes straddling the Wasatch Fault, more and more Utahns are building homes in geologically unstable areas.
"A lot of our easily developed land is now developed," said Gary Christenson, geologic-hazards program manager at the Utah Geological Survey. "Our risk is increasing. We are building into riskier areas."
If it all comes tumbling down, fills with water or washes away, who is responsible?
"They screwed up when they gave everybody permits down here to build basements," Jeanette Meisenbacher told the Deseret Morning News after shallow groundwater breached her South Jordan basement earlier this spring.
When she says "they," she's talking about South Jordan city officials — the people she and her husband say are primarily to blame for the flooding.
The river bottoms are a natural destination for runoff from the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains. Sometimes that water trickles via above-ground streams, and sometimes it seeps underground and rushes downhill. It's that underground water that caught the Meisenbachers by surprise. They had thought they were prepared.
They had installed basement sump pumps and dug drainage channels around their yard after their city-issued building permit warned of the potential for groundwater flooding. The fact that those precautions weren't enough makes the Meisenbachers angry. Maybe the city shouldn't have given them a permit at all, they now say.
But South Jordan public services director Don Bruey said the building permit gave the homeowners plenty of warning and that ultimately it is the builder's responsibility to act on that warning.
Christenson said fluctuating weather patterns can contribute to such situations. "That's one of those problems when you build in a drought," he said. "The groundwater may be down, but the water table can fluctuate five to 10 feet in a year in some places."
Because geologic stability can vary so greatly depending on a given year's weather, cities regularly require developers or builders to commission geotechnical studies before they build next to hillsides, in river bottoms, on mountain benches or near fault lines. Some cities, such as Layton, have begun requiring such studies citywide.
The Highland View Estates neighborhood in South Weber, where the Keyes family once lived, was built in an area marked on the city's master plan as prone to landslides. But not everyone pays close attention to things like that.
"We never knew it was a landslide hazard," said Trudy Keyes, who lives in another house on the same street.
Depending on where you live, your city or county government may or may not have designated certain geologically hazardous areas off limits for developments. Your government may or may not be willing to negotiate when developers come knocking with plans for a new hillside neighborhood or river-front subdivision.
"There is pressure from the development community, but cities are trying to respond by developing ordinances," Utah League of Cities and Towns planning consultant Megan Ryan said. Some cities have created so-called sensitive-lands ordinances. Such regulations may prohibit developing on slopes of a particular grade. They may require developers to put certain precautions in place before building in river bottoms. Or they may declare wetlands off limits, among many other provisions.
"Often it's cities that have had problems in the past that are especially cognizant of it," Christenson said.
In St. George, development has long been prohibited in areas designated as floodplains by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, last year's rushing rivers swept away houses that weren't built in the floodplain. Instead of being flooded, they actually fell into the rising water as the ground around them eroded.
FEMA has since re-evaluated the Virgin and Santa Clara floodplains, which have changed as erosion altered the riverbeds. The agency has also designated "erosion zones," where high water could destabilize homes without ever flooding them. St. George has updated its ordinances to require special precautions for development in such zones. Even still, it's no guarantee.
"It's hard to know where those will occur," assistant city manager Marc Mortensen said. "We have an idea, but even now we're not 100 percent confident that that erosion zone won't grow over time."
Christenson said the UGS is willing to work closely with cities seeking to focus their planning on safely guiding future growth. Cities like Layton, Ogden and Provo have made use of that offer. Some other cities, Christenson said, have not.
"We certainly encourage all cities and counties to deal with geologic hazards," he said.
Stuart Johnson, Deseret Morning NewsFlooding of the Santa Clara River ravaged the yard of this home last year, causing most of the structure to topple into the river. Cities have a number of tools to consider in their efforts to deal with those risks. In addition to sensitive-lands ordinances, some cities have turned to zoning to keep development away from certain areas. But zoning can be a sweeping designation of a huge chunk of land and can ignore the existence of undevelopable areas mere yards away from perfectly safe areas.
Tim Watkins, senior planner at quality-growth advocacy group Envision Utah, promotes the idea of purchasing or transferring development rights. A developer who owns land zoned to allow three homes per acre could buy the right to more density from a nearby landowner whose land is in the same zone but is more sensitive and less suitable for development. The overall density would remain the same — no more than three homes per acre in the entire zone — but the stable land would be developed more densely while the sensitive land would remain untouched.
The idea has been used recently to keep development out of Mapleton's foothills and canyons by driving density toward the valley floor.
But not everyone supports the idea of governments managing development to that degree. During the 2006 Legislature, several bills came up that would have restricted cities' ability to zone and manage land-use planning. Most of those bills were gutted, killed by committee or replaced by less-dramatic bills. But many involved in city government believe some legislators are trying to send a message: Let landowners have more control of how their land is developed.
"Cities are trying to do the right thing, and I'm not sure the Legislature supports that," Ryan said. "Maybe that's a message (lawmakers) need to hear from their constituents in the cities."
One group that has criticized so-called quality-growth planning and other land-use controls by city and county governments is the conservative Sutherland Institute. However, president Paul Mero said protecting homeowners from geologic instability is one of the instances when such controls might not be out of the question — as long as developers and builders are involved in the process.
"The role of local government in development is health and safety, so this certainly fits into that category," Mero said.

Doing your homework:

UGS has created maps for areas throughout the state showing general geologic hazards — fault lines, historic landslides and the like. But usually those maps don't do the trick when it comes to planning a few acres here, a few more there.
On the local scale, more detailed studies are needed to look at soil types, groundwater levels, the potential for liquefaction during an earthquake and other risks. Those so-called geotechnical studies are sometimes done by cities, sometimes required of developers by city ordinance and sometimes left up to individual builders or homeowners.
Even when cities require geotechnical studies, and even when those studies lead officials to require certain precautions, the necessary follow-through isn't always there.
"Few cities actually have a process to make sure what is agreed to actually gets done," Christenson said. "There's quite a few places where the process breaks down. Local governments need to be vigilant in approving developments — vigilant and, basically, hard-nosed."
When the studies are done, they are often commissioned by developers — who want to be told their land is safe and stable and who might shop around until they find someone who will tell them that.
"There are certainly economic pressures on the consultants to say what the developers want to hear," Christenson said.
Taz Biesinger, a spokesman for the Home Builders Association of Utah, said developers must comply with cities' requirements and try to use the best information they have available when building.
"Do bad things happen? Unfortunately they do," he said. "But I don't think anyone tries to do anything intentionally wrong."
Because hazards monitoring and planning vary from city to city, Christenson recommends anyone looking to buy or build a home do a little of their own homework first. Homebuyers "need to realize that when they're looking at a home, there is no guarantee that it was permitted with geologic hazards in mind," he said.
The extent of the legwork that would-be homeowners should do depends on several factors: where they plan to build or buy; how comfortable they are with the information they have received from developers, builders and real-estate agents; and, ultimately, their gut instincts.
Deseret Morning News graphic There are warning signs. For example, low-lying valley and river-bottoms areas are at a greater risk for groundwater flooding, though such floods can occur in foothills as well.
Landslides are most likely to occur on steep natural or construction-related slopes, areas in or at the mouths of drainages or canyons, slopes below leaking canals or ponds, developed hillsides where septic-tank soil-absorption systems are used and landscapes are irrigated, or below cliffs or hills with outcrops of fractured rock, according to the UGS.
High-risk areas become more landslide-prone once development starts as hillsides are cut away and become more unstable. Landscaping with thirsty plants also increases hazards as hillsides quickly see five or six times the water they normally would.
First and foremost, Christenson said, homeowners need to pay close attention to zoning maps, city master plans and building permits. If a permit application says an area may be prone to landslides or groundwater flooding, he said, more research is in order.
When cities have carried out geotechnical studies of a certain area, those studies are available to anyone who wants to see them, and Christenson recommended checking them out before building or buying. The Deseret Morning News visited several city offices to explore the availability of such studies. In every case, studies were available — although in some cities, it took a lot of asking and being sent to different departments before someone was able to help.
Sometimes, however, it might be wiser to hire your own geologist or engineer to visit your property, do a study and offer advice. "It could cost a lot, but it could cost a lot more not to know," Christenson said.

Picking up the pieces
Christenson stresses individual responsibility in checking out a homesite's safety because, ultimately, legal and financial responsibility will probably lie with the homeowner. Once disaster strikes, you may or may not get any help from local, state or federal governments.
In South Jordan and elsewhere, victims of natural disasters have discussed seeking financial help from their cities. In the case of Mountain Green's slow-moving landslide, some homeowners are discussing filing lawsuits, though it is unclear whether the target would be developers, builders or the city. But proving the city is to blame can be a tough legal process.
"Cities generally think that if we don't cause the disaster, we're not legally responsible for it," said David Church, general counsel for the Utah League of Cities and Towns and attorney for several Utah cities. "If someone builds in a disaster area, they do that of their own choice."
It can be especially hard to get money in cases like South Jordan's flooding or South Weber's landslide, where the city provided warning about the hazards, Church said.
The best way to be poised to recover as quickly and easily as possible, experts say, is to have a comprehensive insurance policy. Gus Miranda, a spokesman for State Farm Insurance, said flood insurance is an often-overlooked need.
Miranda said floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and about 20 percent to 25 percent of those floods occur in areas considered at low or moderate flood risk. A home has a 26 percent chance of being flooded during the life of a 30-year mortgage, compared with a 4 percent chance of fire, Miranda said.
Of course insurance coverage has its limitations, too.

"Most insurance policies do not cover earth movement," Miranda said, meaning responsibility for damage from landslides, mudslides and debris flow often falls in the lap of the victims.
And even when homes have flood insurance, it doesn't cover everything. Many of the homes destroyed by the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers, for example, weren't technically flooded. The water didn't come to the homes so much as the homes fell into the water.
In the end, the best protection against costly, possibly life-threatening natural disasters may be staying away from the most dangerous places in the first place.
Building in geologically unstable areas "can be done safely, but sometimes it can be expensive," Christenson said. "Sometimes it may not be worth it."


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Fresenius Medical Care plans to expand its Utah dialysis facility

By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News

OGDEN — By this time next year, Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest maker of dialysis equipment, will have added 270 jobs and 300,000 square feet of assembly and storage space to its Ogden plant.
The Ogden plant, which is the company's largest, will increase production from 27 million dialyzers — a type of blood filter — to 33 million.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and company executives lauded the expansion, made possible by a $675,000 incentive from Ogden's Community and Economic Development.
Fresenius will invest about $83 million to expand production at its plant, and the $675,000 is a small portion of the property taxes the company will pay once the expansion is complete, said Richard McConkie, Ogden's deputy director of Community and Economic Development.
Additional incentives from the state could kick in if more expansion happens, said Michael Sullivan, spokesman for the Governor's Office of Economic Development.
"We are happy to be here in Utah," said Rice Powell, chief executive officer for Fresenius North America.
The company currently has 1,150 full-time employees and about 100 temporary employees in Ogden. Worldwide, 80,000 people in 40 countries work for Fresenius, which is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey said it's near ecstasy for him when a company is willing to not only stay in town but also expand.
"It's good for the economy and it's good for Ogden," he said.
"They could go anywhere," Huntsman said during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. "These aren't just jobs, they are high-paying jobs, which is what the state wants."
Troy McGhee, general manager of the Ogden plant, said the annual salary will be above the Weber County average of $21,500 per year.
"This is about more than expanding square footage," Huntsman said. "This is about building lives."
McConkie called the expansion a win-win situation for Ogden because the company keeps a low profile, is clean and pays higher wages.
Fresenius began life in Germany in 1452 as a pharmacy, Powell said. Over centuries and through mergers, the company has survived. In its latest incarnation, as a producer of dialysis equipment, the company purchased dialysis clinics. The company came to Ogden in September 1996 when it bought a factory from an intravenous fluid company.
"It's nice to see it grow," Powell said, adding that his company makes it possible for people with kidney failure to live longer.


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Layton being 'picky' with downtown renovation plans

By Brandy A. Lee
Deseret Morning News

LAYTON — As Layton's downtown began to shift north with new development, the buildings along its old main streets started to resemble those of a forgotten rural small town.
Deseret Morning News graphic High volumes of traffic from west Layton on south Main Street and Gentile Street, however, have prompted the city to look at rerouting traffic and building an interchange onto I-15. City officials realized the interchange would provide access to the old downtown area, so they assigned a city redevelopment agency to take advantage of the potential for increased retail growth.
In June 2002, Layton created a 15-20 year redevelopment agency plan for revamping buildings, improving walkways and lighting, and creating a place where people can go and relax. The planning area extends from the southernmost end of Main Street to Fort Lane. In the four years since the planning process began, however, few retailers have signed on, in part because of delays over road plans.
"We would like to see a mixed use of office, retail and housing," said Seth Butterfield, Layton economic development administrator. The aim is that when the housing is built, "people can just walk to the stores," he added.
So far, Gold's Gym has moved into space once occupied by an old Albertsons store on the northwest corner of Fort Lane and Gentile Street, and Destination Homes is building a corporate office on south Main Street. But Layton has also turned down some potential retailers whose proposals didn't fit with the city's plan.
"There are a few that came through who had their own personal vision that didn't fit with our vision," said Scott Carter, the city's community and economic development director. "We want to be a little bit picky, so that we get what we want."
Butterfield said the redevelopment agency plan calls for everything within the area to have a uniform look. While current business owners in the area won't be required to renovate their buildings, the city is considering creating incentives for them to do so, he said.
Carter said all design changes in the area will have to be approved through a design committee. The city already plans to put in place many outside design features such as plazas, harmonized lighting and clock towers. City officials also are working with the Utah Transit Authority so that a planned stop for the Front Runner commuter rail line coordinates with the city's redevelopment area design.
"We want it all to blend and look nice," Matson said.
Remaining development may depend on the proposed I-15 interchange that would be built in south Layton. Both the city and the Utah Department of Transportation hope it will help ease traffic on roads like Gentile Street, which is heavily affected by growth in the western part of the city.
An interchange in this area would reroute traffic west to Fort Lane and east to Flint Street. While construction could have started as early as this year, it has been delayed until March 2008, Butterfield said.
A proposed Western Access Road would eventually go from the I-15 interchange to a possible Legacy Highway extension to the west. But some residents were not satisfied with an environmental assessment for the road, done by the city in 2004.
The residents hired a lawyer, Jeffrey Appel, to voice their concerns in a November 2004 letter to the Federal Highway Administration in Salt Lake City. They threatened to sue, and their concerns, as well as the threat of legal action, prompted the federal agency to decide in late 2005 that a full environmental impact study was needed.
The highway administration allowed Layton to do the environmental study, which is costing $2 million, said Gary Crane, Layton city attorney.
"If we'd had to litigate the issue, the cost would have been higher," Crane said.
The study, scheduled to be complete in 2008, is examining the social and economic impacts of the road, as well as the physical geography. The earlier environmental assessment done in 2004 was less detailed
"If the city and UDOT would have provided us with alternatives, then we would not have been concerned," said David Lindmeir, one of the residents who had called for the more comprehensive study. The proposed Western Access Road would come within about 200 yards of his home.
The road would be two lanes with a median, with another two lanes for parking on each side of the road. One of the residents' biggest concerns was traffic on the road as children walk to a nearby elementary school.
While the city awaits the results of the study, Alex Jensen, Layton's city manager, said the city was optimistic about the road changes and redevelopment plans. "There's a lot of exciting things down there," he said.


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:cool:
By Mike Gorrell

The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:10/30/2006 03:33:40 PM MST


:cool: For three months early in 2008, nearly 300 competitors are expected to assemble in the mountains above Ogden for a newly created sports event - the XTERRA Winter World Championship.
The competition is patterned after the summer XTERRA USA Championship Series, which features more than 50 events such as open-water swimming, mountain biking and trail running. Several of these events were staged in Utah the past two summers, said Jeff Robbins, president and chief executive of the Utah Sports Commission, which helped bring the winter version to Utah.
Professional and amateur athletes will be eligible to compete in the Winter World Championship, in both single-stage races (Nordic skiing, snow biking and snow running) and triathlon-style, multidisciplinary races. Organizers also are considering including ice climbing, bobsledding, snowboarding, skating and downhill skiing as demonstration events, Robbins said.
TEAM Unlimited, which is organizing the competition, will produce two television feature shows about the competition and Utah's winter sports activities, and expects the programs to be aired by the major networks.
"The XTERRA Winter Championship is another example of how we are using sports to help build the state's image and economy," Robbins said.

[Utaaah!]

This looks to be a carbon copy of the Midtown development in Orem. It would easily be the tallest building in Davis County, and is convenient to Hill Air Force Base and the Weber State - Davis campus. I just wish it were about a mile west -- closer to FrontRunner.

Clearfield plans center

http://www.standard.net/inc/images/photos/lead_2a81a4af5b3113baf46595a27e8fd459

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

By Antone Clark
Standard-Examiner correspondent

CLEARFIELD -- An Orem development group wants to build an eight-story, "lifestyle" center with a projected price tag of more than $100 million.

The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building, 55 S. State St., to discuss Midtown Village's plan.

Changing the city's general plan is a key legal step to the mixed-use project. The planned location for the development is only zoned for commercial uses, not mixed-use.

The change of zoning would impact 11 acres, owned by Wayne Bellaeu and located at the intersection of State Route 193 and University Park Boulevard on the city's eastern border.

Once the Planning Commission reviews the general plan, the City Council can consider a potential amendment to it.

City Manager Chris Hillman said this project is the first of its kind in Davis County.

The complex has a 2007 construction timetable, and it would include residential, office, recreation, entertainment and retail components.

It would be patterned after a similar development under way in Orem, Hillman said. The facility would feature more than 1 million square feet and include the largest, state-of-the-art theater in Davis County, as well as hotel space via a timeshare component with concierge services.

The project would be roughly half the size of the Gateway in Salt Lake City.

Mayor Don Wood said it would significantly impact the region.

"This development will be a major destination for both Davis and Weber counties where people can live, work, shop, dine and be entertained all in one complex," Wood said.

Wood and other city leaders began courting Midtown this summer. Since August, Hillman said, city officials have spent a lot of time doing site visits and negotiating the partnership. All City Council members, except Councilman Doyle Sprague, have also been to Utah County to see the Midtown project in Orem.

Still, there are some financial wrinkles and issues facing the city that need to be worked out. Hillman said city officials have discussed creating a special improvement district for the area, which would allow Clearfield to bond for at least $7 million to make site improvements.

"This means development dollars will be used to pay for development," Hillman said. "The burden will not be placed on Clearfield residents."

There is also the issue of 15 acres of park space, owned by the city and adjacent to the proposed development site. Though nothing has been decided, there is talk of swapping that land or developing it in some way.

With the project, Wood said, the city will get improved park space as well as more property taxes and sales tax to help pay for improved city services.

Wood said final details on the public/private partnership are expected before the year's end.

Midtown Village already has a Davis County presence. The developer is currently leasing space in the Layton Hills Mall to promote the project and take reservations, beginning Nov. 10.

"Midtown Village is excited about bringing this project to Clearfield and Davis County," said Rob Storey, Midtown's marketing manager.

The project is located just east of where the city's largest retail project is expected to open in weeks. Tai-Pan Trading International is expected to hold a ribbon cutting for its new 100,000-square-foot retail facility in early November.

[delts145]

Utaaah,

Thanks for the great update. I had no idea!!

[leebuddy]

way to go clearfield. That's great news for that area. Seem like we are hearing more now about other cities getting a mid-rise mix-use buildings. This once again shows that utah is building up!

:tup:

[Utaaah!]

So the developer considered a downtown, transit-friendly site for this project, but deemed it too "risky". Such little faith.

A future 'mini-Gateway'

Friday, November 3, 2006

By Antone Clark
Standard-Examiner correspondent

Developer considered Clearfield rail site, says risk too great

CLEARFIELD -- The principal owner of a development group that will build a "mini-Gateway" on the eastern border of Clearfield says he considered property near the city's soon-to-be-built commuter rail site, but decided the risk was simply too great.

Larry Myler of Midtown Village of Orem said he did look at building a $100-million "lifestyle" center that combines residential, commercial, retail and entertainment options on property adjacent to the uncompleted rail stop at 1250 S. State St.

However, at a public hearing during a recent Planning Commission meeting, Myler said he simply couldn't take the risk and had to consider other options.

Now Myler has proposed building Midtown Village of Legend Hills on 11 acres at State Route 193, also known as 700 South, and University Park Boulevard. The project would be an eight-story "mini-Gateway" on property owned by Wayne Belleau.

"This seems to be a better spot," Myler said.

The Utah Transit Authority owns about 73 acres on the southern end of town.

Only 10 of those acres will be needed for the rail stop, so potential development of the rest of the acreage has been an ongoing topic for several years.

Myler said the risk was simply too great to move that direction.

"I can't take a $100 million chance."

He said no one has a handle on how popular the rail line will be, so transit-oriented development around the rail stop is still an unknown.

The Legend Hills project must clear a number of legal issues before it can be started, but developers hope to break ground in spring and expect the project to take two to 21/2 years to complete.

The project is being modeled after a similar structure under construction in Orem.

[Utaaah!]

Mammoth project planned for Clearfield
Tom Busselberg 02.NOV.06
Center will be bigger than Layton Hills Mall

CLEARFIELD — Planning commission officials were due to announce a mammoth development Wednesday night as the Clipper went to press. Midtown Village, an Orem-based development group, was due to announce the building of a $100 million, high-end, mixed-used “lifestyle center” for Clearfield. It would be built on an 11-acre parcel at the intersection of State Road 193 and University Park Blvd., in the Legend Hills area.

Clearfield officials said they hope the entertainment component will include what would be Davis County’s largest theater with more than 500 seats.

Hotel space would also be included via a timeshare component complete with concierge services.

It would be one of the largest and tallest developments in the entire county, featuring eight stories and more than 1 million square feet. By comparison, the Layton Hills Mall includes about 700,000 square feet. It would be roughly half the size of Salt Lake City’s Gateway.

Clearfield’s general plan will have to be amended to allow a mixed-use development in an area currently zoned commercial. City officials have been meeting with the Orem developers since August. The city council visited their project in Orem and have since held many discussions.

“This development will be a major destination for both Davis and Weber counties where people can live, work, shop, dine and be entertained, all in one complex,” says Mayor Don Wood.

“Tools we are using at using are creating a special improvement district to bond for the site’s public improvements, as well as using increment money from an already established economic development agency/area,” says City Manager Chris Hillman.

In addition, 15 acres of park space owned by the city next to the new development could be developed, as well.

“This will be a win-win situation for residents and developers,” said Wood.

“We’ll get improved park space as well as more property and sales tax revenue to help pay for improved city services.”

Midtown Village developers have leased space in the Layton Hills Mall to promote the development and take reservations beginning Nov. 10.

This will be by far the largest commercial development ever in this city of nearly 30,000 residents.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com

[arkhitektor]

Mammoth project planned for Clearfield
Tom Busselberg 02.NOV.06
Center will be bigger than Layton Hills Mall


Just what this area needs: More traffic.

The Clearfield Frontrunner station would have been a much better location for a project of this scope.

What I didn't realize until just recently is that the area in question is even part of Clearfield proper. The portion of Clearfield located east of I-15 seems much more like a part of Layton. The only way to access the rest of Clearfield from this site is by crossing I-15 via Hwy. 193. The rest of the area is cut off from Clearfield by the freeway.

Basically my fear is that this new project will only further over-burden Layton's already inadequate transit infrastructure while Clearfield enjoys all of the tax revenue that it generates.

http://www.standard.net/inc/images/photos/lead_2a81a4af5b3113baf46595a27e8fd459

[Utaaah!]

^ I agree. What was the developer afraid of? No one would want to live/work/shop on the "west side"? Was it the tracks themselves, which carry 30 UP trains/day in addition to FrontRunner? Was is downtown Clearfield's trashy image? I think the city has done a lot to clean itself up in recent years. This could have provided a needed boost to the city core.

[delts145]

:previous: Short term vision. I would bet that in five to ten years this developer will somewhat regret their decision. Downtown Ogden is really going places, and it already has such a rich architectural heritage.

http://www.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles7647.jpg

Aerial of the city of Ogden/northern Wasatch Metro

[delts145]

Chamber Member Announcements


AMER WINTER & OUTDOOR U.S.
BREAKS GROUND IN THE GREATEST SNOW ON EARTH

World’s Largest Sports Equipment Company to Launch New Headquarters in Ogden, Utah

The greatest snow company on earth is getting set to make tracks on the greatest snow on earth. Amer Sports Corporation—the world’s largest sports equipment company—has selected Ogden, Utah for the home of its recently created Winter & Outdoor U.S. unit.

The unit, which includes Amer brands Salomon, Atomic and Suunto is headed up by President/G.M. Mike Dowse, a 16 year Amer Sports veteran. The unit was launched in August to provide a shared platform for the brands, enabling them to increase customer service capacity with retailers and consumers and to help the brands build market position and sales.

“After considering several Western cities, Ogden topped our list in all the critical categories. Its strategic location will enable us to establish our platform, help strengthen the brands, and provide top notch customer service,” explains Mike Dowse, President and General Manager of Amer Winter & Outdoor U.S. “Being based in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, we will be close to the consumers of our brand and our products keeping us completely in tune with consumers and developing trends. As a leader in winter sports, we will be at home on the mountain.”

Ogden is located on the west side of the Wasatch Mountains, 40 miles north of Salt Lake City International Airport. The city boasts a vibrant historical district and quick access to two of America’s top-rated ski resorts.

“We’re excited to welcome Amer Sports to Ogden’s outdoor business community,” says Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey. “Amer is the world’s leading sports equipment company. The power of its brands will define Ogden’s presence as the hub for the high adventure recreation business and the organizations that support it.”

Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. commented, "We are thrilled to have Amer Sports' American Headquarters for Winter and Outdoor products, including the Atomic, Salomon and Suunto brands, relocating to the state of Utah. This further illustrates Utah's increasing prominence in the wintersports and outdoor recreation industry."

Amer Sports expects to initiate its relocation efforts in the Spring of 2007.

Founded in 1950, Amer Sports Corporation is the world’s leading sports equipment company with internationally recognized brands including Wilson, Atomic, Suunto, Precor, Salomon and Mavic. Employing more than 6,600 people worldwide, Amer Sports companies develop and manufacture technically advanced products that improve the performance of active sports participants. The Group’s business is balanced by a broad portfolio of sports with a presence in all major markets.


www.amersports.com

[delts145]

OWATC and Williams International
Announce Lean Manufacturing Training Center

Center home to over $25 million in equipment, is unique in nation


Summary:
The Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College (OWATC) is teaming with Williams International to create a new Lean Manufacturing Training Center for Excellence. Williams International is making equipment valued at over $25 million available to train students in lean manufacturing and advanced machining principles. The OWATC is providing faculty, curriculum, and will coordinate instruction with manufacturing employers throughout Weber County. The equipment has already been delivered to its new home at the Business Depot Ogden (BDO).

The new facility will be operated by OWATC and Williams and will include classrooms and a realistic production operation. It should be operational by early spring of 2007 and will be open to all employers in Northern Utah. This new center will bolster Northern Utah's already strong aerospace cluster and is in keeping with the Governor's economic development plan for Northern Utah. This center will be the only training facility of its type in the nation, and will raise the entire region's profile as an aerospace hub.

A Fast Track to Fruition
Lloyd McCaffrey, Director of Manufacturing Technology for Williams International, presented this proposal to OWATC’s board after experiencing frustration over the funding provided to OWATC by the Legislature. He said, “You can't buy any machine tools of any serious size with the amount of money given by the legislature each year. I realized that the only way to get more equipment for students would be to team up.” So when an opportunity came for Williams International to purchase 25 state-of-the-art milling machines, McCaffrey presented the idea to OWATC’s Board late last spring. When both organizations gave the green light, Williams quickly siezed that opportunty. From that point, the project has moved forward at a remakable speed.

As of last week, all 25 machines have been delivered from Michigan, and construction crews are actively retrofitting the building including pouring concrete for a new subfloor. If schedules hold, the facility will be operational by next spring.

New Center Unique in the Country:
The new center will be the only facility of its kind in the U.S. It will be open to OWATC machining students and local employers for training. Students in OWATC’s machining program will first complete prerequisites and then will be eligible to go through the Lean Manufacturing Center for Excellence as a capstone to the already rigorous machining curriculum.

“This center is a huge boon to Weber County,” said OWATC President, Brent Wallis. He continued, “Students will benefit by learning the latest manufacturing principles in a realistic environment, on state-of-the-art equipment. Employers benefit by having workers who are ready to hit the ground running. The community benefits in its ability to attract new aerospace companies.”

Aerospace an Important Cluster for the Region:
Governor Huntsman has designated Northern Utah as the Aerospace hub for Utah as part of his overall economic plan that focuses on key industry clusters. Northern Utah is the natural choice for this cluster with the presence of Hill Air Force Base and companies like Williams International, ATK Thiokol, Barnes Aerospace, and recent relocations such as Adam Aircraft. Ron Kusina, Executive Director for the Weber Economic Development Corporation expressed enthusiasm for the deal. Kusina said, “This deal adds an incredibly important piece to the high-tech manufacturing mix, particularly as it relates to aerospace in Weber County. In short, this is a fine opportunity for Northern Utah.”

Building on Past Partnership Success:
The ability to hire enough skilled machinists in Weber County has turned from a crisis to a success story in recent years. Recently, local employers including Williams International, Parker, JD Machine and Petersen Inc. faced severe shortages of skilled labor in spite of the industry’s high wages and good working conditions. The answer was a partnership between local machining companies, OWATC, the Chamber of Commerce and Weber Economic Development Corporation to re-brand the profession and attract more workers.

The effort paid off by increasing numbers of students enrolled in machining at OWATC. While demand for students remains high, many more students have graduated into these great jobs. Since then, the industry has continued to improve by adopting lean principles. These practices require an even higher level of training that isn’t widely available. The new Lean Manufacturing Center for Excellence will fill this need.

About the facility and equipment:
The facility is located at the Business Depot Ogden and offers 53,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The total value of the equipment is over $25 million and includes 25 4-axis CNC milling machines that plus robots, parts loaders, conveyors and other auxiliary pieces. They must be aligned to within tolerances smaller than the width of a human hair. Renovations include redoing the concrete foundation to hold the weight of the 50,000 pound machines, installing transformers, wiring, and air compressors.

About Lean Manufacturing:
Lean Manufacturing is one of the latest improvements globally in manufacturing techniques. The term was made popular by a book entitled, The Machine that Changed the World written by James Womack, et al, published in 1990. It defines lean as, “A systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste through continuous improvement, flowing the product at the pull of the customer in pursuit of perfection.” When implemented, it reduces the cost of operations, eliminates waste, reduces inventory, and simplifies work areas. Lean manufacturing principles are highly visual. Companies like Williams use ingenious techniques like dispensing tools and parts from vending machines provided by suppliers. The vendors own parts until Williams employees “buy” them from vending machines.

About Williams International
Williams International is the world leader in small turbine engines and customer support, with headquarters in Walled Lake, Michigan, and a design-to-production facility in Ogden, Utah. For more information about the company, its products, and support, please visit www.williams-int.com

About OWATC
The Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College is a 35-year old college institution that provides hands-on training in over 50 programs that fall within 5 cluster areas: Business & I.T., Construction, Health, Manufacturing and Services. OWATC teaches short-term programs so students can get in, get out, and get hired quickly. There are three campuses in Ogden, Roy, and at the Business Depot Ogden (BDO). Most programs operate on an open-entry system, which means a student can start any Monday.

Facility Open to Public at Chamber Business Expo:
The Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual business expo where the new center will be located. The address is Building 550, suite 2 at 550 South, Depot Drive in Ogden. BDO is operated by The Boyer Company, Master Lessor and Developer at BDO. Boyer completed the Gateway project in downtown Salt Lake City and is currently working on the Ogden City Mall site.

Contact information:
Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College
Rhonda Boren, Director of Marketing

[delts145]

:tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup:

For those interested in the huge, "Malan Basin development," here is a good site with pics and points of interest.

www.echamber.cc/gondola/malansbasindev.html

[delts145]

Fall, 2006


Hit the Heights, but Take the Stairs

The New York Times


By STEPHEN REGENOLD

EAST of the Great Salt Lake,across desert brush and urban sprawl, the mountains of Ogden, Utah, stretch jagged and steep into the sky. There, on the front of the Wasatch Range, pyramid peaks cut a sharp silhouette on the backdrop of blue.



also Tom Smart for The New York Times

Chris Peterson, owns the Waterfall Canyon Climbing Park in Ogden, Utah, which has the newest via ferrata routes in North America.
“Long ways down,” said Kym Buttschardt, an Ogden native standing on the edge of a cliff, peering off toward her home thousands of feet down in the valley below. Ms. Buttschardt, a 39-year-old mother of three young boys who operates a restaurant business with her husband, gripped a rebar ladder rung drilled into the rock face. Her climbing harness was tethered to a cable.

“I’ve got to get my boys up here some day,” Ms. Buttschardt said. The climb above, a 350-foot route at the edge of Ogden, was equipped with ladders, bolts and fixed cables. The style of climbing — a European discipline called via ferrata — allowed Ms. Buttschardt and a group of eight other climbers, including three consummate beginners, to move over the stone with little hesitation.

Via ferrata — Italian for iron way — is immensely popular in Europe, where hundreds of cable-protected routes lace the Alps. Ladders, bridges, stair steps, bolts and strands of cable affixed to vertical rock, all permanent and built to weather decades of exposure, are common on prominent peaks. Ropes, rock shoes, belay devices and removable protection — requisite gear for the sport of rock climbing — are superfluous on a via ferrata climb. Indeed, the via ferrata technique, which was developed during World War I to move troops quickly through the Dolomites in Northern Italy, allows climbers with little instruction or climbing skill to safely ascend sheer cliff faces.

“Via ferrata is probably the quickest way for a new climber to get up high and exposed in the mountains,” said Ron Olevsky, a 52-year-old climbing guide from Toquerville, Utah, who helped lead Ms. Buttschardt’s trip. But Mr. Olevsky, who has pioneered climbing routes in the West since the 1970’s, said via ferrata shares few traits with the sport of rock climbing. “If you want to learn climbing technique,” he said, “it’s not the best way to start out.”

In North America, via ferrata has never been a part of the climbing culture. Fewer than 10 via ferrata climbing areas exist in the United States, and many climbers in this country are unfamiliar with the sport. Government-imposed bans that outlaw permanent climbing anchors, notably the Wilderness Act of 1964, make installing via ferrata climbs a red-tape nightmare in many places.

Some climbers have environmental or ethical qualms. “Via ferratas make remote, craggy regions that were formerly accessible to very few people accessible to just about anyone,” said Duane Raleigh, the editor and publisher of Rock and Ice, a climbing magazine based in Carbondale, Colo. “If the goal is to make the mountains easy for everyone, then via ferratas are good. But, in my opinion, they represent the sterilization of the wild lands.”

Phil Powers, the executive director of the American Alpine Club in Golden, Colo., said North Americans could benefit from more exposure to via ferrata. “I am fond of the idea that nonclimbers could experience the thrill of the vertical world so easily on a via ferrata and then maybe pursue our wonderful sport as a result,” he said.

The via ferrata climbs above Ogden — three abrupt lines built last fall under the management of Jeff Lowe, a world-renowned climber — are part of Waterfall Canyon Climbing Park, a private preserve owned by Chris Peterson, a businessman in the area. They are the nation’s newest via ferrata routes.

On a sunny Monday morning in mid-August, Mr. Peterson met Ms. Buttschardt, Mr. Olevsky and six other climbers at the parking lot below the canyon. Mr. Peterson gripped a single trekking pole while giving introductions. He said the trail ahead would entail an hour of uphill hiking to reach the bottom of the first climb.

Juniper berries, chalky blue and small as peas, dotted the trail as Mr. Peterson led the group into the shade of the canyon. Russian olive trees arched over the path. Water trickled unseen in a gully below.

“Keep your eyes peeled for thimbleberries,” Mr. Peterson said. “They can be quite good this time of year.”

At the base of the first climb, the canyon’s namesake waterfall misting just upstream, Mr. Olevsky double-checked harnesses and lanyard setups. A rebar ladder rung stuck off the wall at shoulder height. A silver cable, galvanized steel and a quarter-inch in diameter, traced a path on the cliff above

Mike Santi, a first-time climber from Minneapolis, reached to touch the initial rung on the route. Two carabiner-equipped lanyards, both with shock-absorbing properties to protect from the brute force of a fall, dangled from his harness. Mr. Santi clipped them into the cable before stepping off the ground.

While climbers at Waterfall Canyon are warned about the risks of the via ferrata, its fixed features allow beginners like Kym Buttschardt to tackle sheer rock walls and traverse knife-edge ridges.
“Wish me luck,” he said to the group, his shirt already damp with perspiration from the hike.

The rock above, a houndstooth pattern of lichen and seams and pockmarked decay, formed a giant open book against a blueberry sky. A zigzag of sunlight and shadow painted the face.

In 10 minutes, all nine climbers were perched on the stone wall, fingertips curled around rebars, stepping and pulling fast and fluid. The route began easy and a bit less than vertical, a slab of north-facing quartzite. Carabiners slid on the cable quietly beside each climber as they made their way toward a ledge halfway up.

Mr. Santi, Ms. Buttschardt and her husband, Peter — the beginners in the group — had little trouble on the 350-foot climb. Steep vertical sections ended in rests on small ledges. A sharp ridgeline put the climbers on an exposed rib of rock. Talus slopes lay strewn hundreds of airy feet below. But the stout ladder rungs, spaced close on the wall, made the ascent straightforward and easy.

“Look at this view!” Ms. Buttschardt exclaimed, her hand in a salute on her forehead to ward off the sun. Steep foothills dropped off into Ogden. The pan-flat basin below — a crisscross of streets, a mush of leafy green and desert tan to all points west — yielded only to the Great Salt Lake, which flittered 25 miles beyond.

The climbers continued on in a line, stepping on iron, grabbing stone. Clouds, wispy and white, studded with stalactites of virga, drifted in over the ridge. Nine tiny dots made their way up, climbing a steep stairway to heaven in the mountains above Ogden.

VISITOR INFORMATION

VIA ferrata is a popular European pastime, with hundreds of cable-protected, rung-equipped routes ensconced in the Alps. In North America, the sport is little known, and fewer than 10 via ferrata climbing areas have been established in the United States and Canada.

Waterfall Canyon Climbing Park in Ogden, Utah, is the newest area in the United States, with three precipitous climbs found in a deep quartzite canyon just east of the town. The canyon, a private preserve that is scheduled to open officially this fall, has a training wall where newcomers to via ferrata can practice before heading uphill to the big climbs. Rates will start at $40 a day, which includes equipment rental and a lesson on the training wall (801-550-1761).

[delts145]

By Brice Wallace
Deseret Morning News

KAYSVILLE — Another milestone in a statewide effort to get more Utah companies involved in government contracting was reached Wednesday with the grand opening of a program that could result in thousands of jobs.
Dozens of people attended the kickoff ceremonies for Utah Bid Development Solutions, also known as UBiDS, a partnership among the Utah Defense Alliance, the Davis and Ogden/Weber chambers of commerce and Logistics Specialties Inc. to help Utah businesses land federal, state and local government contracts. Housed on the Davis Applied Technology College campus, UBiDS received a financial go-ahead thanks to a $250,000 legislative appropriation for a procurement technical assistance center. The Governor's Office of Economic Development received the funds and contracted with the Utah Defense Alliance, which then subcontracted with LSI.
"I think UBiDS is the greatest single economic development initiative in the state," said Sean Slatter, LSI's president. "We've identified the opportunity to secure 4,000 new jobs under this program. That's amazing. A lot of these jobs will be based in northern Utah to support Hill Air Force Base and the other military and industrial centers in the state."
Slatter said the Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Entrepreneurship Center is "dedicated to creating an environment where defense contractors — government contractors in general — can come and be mentored and grow their businesses."
Kori Ann Edwards, UBiDS director at LSI, said LSI has been matching company products and capabilities to federal contracts for 34 years. "Through the UBiDS contract, we will be able to take this expertise and to share it with Utah businesses who are interested in doing business with the federal government."
She cited Hill Air Force Base as an example of opportunities, noting that the base contracts out about $3 billion annually.
"The objective of the UBiDS program is to help work with Utah businesses to ensure that our Utah economy is able to capture as many of these dollars as possible. ... Through this effort, the state of Utah will realize significant growth in job creation and corporate business expansion," Edwards said.
Rick Mayfield, chief executive officer of the Utah Defense Alliance, noted that the organization had worked to keep Hill Air Force Base open during two rounds of base closings.
"Now we want to kind of move away from that aspect because, at this point in time and hopefully in the future, our bases aren't threatened. But there's a lot of changes in the defense industry, and our community organization has stepped up and said, 'We want to take advantage of those opportunities,"' he said.
The alliance's strategic plan has five goals and 27 objectives. "We are working hard to try and bring additional workload into the state of Utah, but we're also trying to protect what we have and enhance the military value of our bases," Mayfield said.
Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse, said there is "no question" that the program will yield results.
"Truly, the more we can bring the resources that are important to them (Hill Air Force Base) closer to them and make it more efficient and more effective for them, the big picture is that's good for Utah. ... It truly is critical that we try to connect the dots much better to keep the business at home," Killpack said.
Representatives in higher education, the chambers, state government, companies and others have an interest in seeing the program succeed, he said.
"It doesn't matter where these jobs come, as long as they're within the state. ... Any job we can create — I don't care if it's here; I don't care if it's out in the West Desert — we just need to bring them here, and I think this will give us the opportunity to do that," he said.
GOED's executive director, Jason Perry, noted that even Utah's smallest businesses can compete for government contracts. Utah's prime contractors and subcontracting companies receive $1.9 million in government and military contracts, "and we all know in this room ... this is just scratching the surface of the potential for our great state," he said.
The procurement technical assistance center, he said, will "show real results" in time for the next legislative session.
"This one-time money we received from the Legislature to do this very thing is a grand experiment, really," Perry said. "We are expected to do something great with these funds. I have no doubt, because of the people that are here in this room, we will do a lot of great work with these funds. The pieces of the puzzle are all together."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[delts145]

http://deseretnews.com/photos/1005hafb.jpg

F-35A squadron would ensure future of the base

By Suzanne Struglinski and Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News
WASHINGTON — A squadron of the Air Force's most cutting-edge fighters could arrive at Hill Air Force Base in 2009, securing the base's future and potentially boosting the state's economy, the Air Force said Wednesday.
The Air Force plans to begin an environmental analysis with the aim of using Hill to house operational squadrons for the F-35A Lightning II, a stealth fighter intended to be the replacement for F-16 and A-10 fighters, which will eventually be phased out.
>No A-10 squadrons are based at Hill, although the base does maintenance work on the planes for other bases. But Hill is home to three squadrons of F-16s, or about 70 of those planes.
The study could take up to two years, and the first plane could be delivered by 2009, the Air Force said. As many as 24 of the F-35A aircraft, also known as Joint Strike Fighters, could come to the Utah base.
Just last week, the defense spending bill passed by Congress included $5.5 million for a public-private partnership by Utah-based Alliant Techsystems Inc. and Hill's Ogden Air Logistics Center to improve production of composite-technology parts needed for the F-35A.
Rep. Rob Bishop's senior policy adviser on defense, Steve Petersen, said the environmental study is just a formality, meaning the planes are more than likely to come to Utah.
"We don't foresee any show-stoppers there," Petersen said.
He said the Air Force's announcement was as big for Utah as when Hill learned it would get F-16s in 1979. The new jets will bring personnel and resources to the base, and will almost certainly protect the base from future closure considerations, he said.
"It cements the role of Hill Air Force Base and the Ogden Air Logistics Center in the future as the premier fighter depot," Petersen said.
Bishop, R-Utah, represents the 1st District, which includes Hill Air Force Base. He said he always believed the base was a "natural location" for the new jets but "never wanted to take it for granted."
"As the Air Force aircraft inventory ages and budget pressures increase, obtaining the latest and most technologically capable weapons system at our base is crucial," Bishop said.
Rick Mayfield, executive director of the Utah Defense Alliance, agreed that the F-35As will help shore up the future of Hill Air Force Base. The alliance, which has been in existence since 1993 to fight periodic rounds of base realignments and closures, most recently lobbied to keep Hill off the Department of Defense's chopping block in 2005.
If Hill had closed in 2005, it would have devastated the economy in northern Utah. As the largest employer in Davis County, Hill employs about 23,000 people and pumps $2 billion into Utah's economy, Mayfield said.
Retired Army Col. Gary Harter, director of the defense and homeland-security division in the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, said the Defense Department now spends less than 1 percent of its budget — about $3.5 billion — on its installations, contractors and services in Utah. He hopes Utah businesses can compete for more contracts and bring more military jobs to the state to the point that the Defense Department is spending $7 billion by 2011.
The F-35A is "a nice shot in the arm for us, no doubt about it," Harter said.
Petersen said last year's approval of Bishop's bill to create the Cedar Mountain Wilderness Area that protects the Utah Test and Training Range — where Hill's pilots train — was a "key component" of the Air Force's decision to put the jets at Hill. Bishop's bill, supported by the entire congressional delegation, blocked a rail line that would have brought nuclear waste to a proposed storage site in Tooele County and preserved the training-range land from development.
Petersen said the time frame for the F-35As' arrival at Hill depends on the plane's production schedule and decisions on funding from Congress.
For 2007, the president requested enough money for five planes, but the final defense spending bill approved last week included enough for only two, according to the office of Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. The final bill included $4.3 billion for continued research into the F-35A, and the conference committee noted that it wanted more testing on the jets before the government buys them on a large scale.
The planes cost about $50 million apiece, and they represent "brand new, state-of-the-art technology," Hatch said. "It's going to keep Hill strong for decades."
Bishop and Hatch lobbied the Air Force hard for the planes to come to Hill, spelling out that there would be no better place to put them.
"Ever since we heard this was coming up, we made the case it should be at Hill," Hatch said.
The Air Force intends to purchase more than 1,700 of the F-35As over a 16-year period, beginning in 2009. Kadena Air Base, in Japan, and Shaw Air Force Base and McEntire Air National Guard Station, in South Carolina, will also be studied as bases for the fighters, according to the Air Force.
"The capabilities we provide the joint warfighter are in high demand, yet we have the oldest aircraft inventory in our history," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff. "The Air Force will continue to invest in advanced capabilities needed to defeat the emerging technological advances of our adversaries."
Lt. Beth Woodward, spokeswoman for the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, said teams plan to analyze the various bases for suitability and hear community concerns over the next few months.
More information on the F-35A can be found at www.jsf.mil/.





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[delts145]

http://www.go-utah.com/UT/images/photos/ogden-tb-peerytheatre-1.jpg

http://www.cgtrio.com/roadcam/2004/pix/022004-03.jpg

It would be worth it to go up to Ogden and catch a performance, just to be able to sit in this theatre.

[dewaalnuts]

:previous:
Poor guy, he must be a horrible performer, there is only one guy who went to see him in concert. twang twang twang

[Joe Gardner]

With all this growth in Ogden, do you guys think the Real Estate prices will come back? RE in Ogden is CHEAP, and I don't know why... *shrug*

[delts145]

http://departments.weber.edu/cpsc/html/sb.JPG




By Ann Millner and Richard E. Kendell

During a series of public meetings and information sessions in the past month, the greater Ogden community has had an opportunity to learn more about developer Chris Peterson's proposed plans for Ogden's east bench.
As many of you know, Mr. Peterson is interested in acquiring land from the city of Ogden and Weber State University to pursue his plans for a new housing development and year-round resort in Malan's Basin.
The concepts shared at these information sessions present some big decisions for the university and community. We personally believe it's the most significant decision Weber State has considered since purchasing the land to relocate the campus on Harrison Boulevard in the early 1950s.
As a public university, any decision to sell or exchange land would involve a review at both the university and state level. Keep in mind that Weber State property is held by the Utah State Board of Regents in the name of the university. Traditionally, WSU and higher education in general have focused on trying to acquire property to accommodate future growth.
A review of past WSU enrollment data and the Board of Regents projections for future growth underscore the necessity of having available land for future campus expansion. Twenty years ago, Weber State's enrollment stood at 11,366 students. In 1996, it was 13,906. Today the university has an enrollment of 18,334 with a projected 25,790 students by 2026. Extrapolating on those figures, WSU will double its current enrollment by 2054. That's an important consideration when our Ogden campus is quickly approaching build-out.
While the university has participated in past property transactions that involved the sale or trade of very small parcels of land that met the needs of the school, the amount of acreage involved in this request is extraordinary. If you consider that the Ogden campus sits on approximately 400 square acres, this request for approximately 150 acres represents more than a third of the overall campus.
Two buildings housing key campus support services are located on the land in question, east of Skyline Drive. In addition to being used for science instruction and field studies, the property also houses a water retention facility for campus irrigation and a par course. While the current 20-year master plan shows a footprint for only one additional service building, this land would be critical for future development during the next 20-50 years.
Many people have inquired about the process we'll use to evaluate a formal proposal from Mr. Peterson.
We are assembling a study group composed of university constituents, including faculty, staff, students, trustees and officials from state agencies. This volunteer advisory body will be involved with fact-finding and information gathering. This group will develop criteria for making a decision. We envision an opportunity to share their findings and recommendations at open campus meetings.
Ultimately, a recommendation would be made to the Board of Trustees and forwarded to the Board of Regents. The final decision will rest with the Board of Regents.
A hasty decision of this magnitude would be a disservice. But a deliberative, thorough process will enable us to arrive at a final decision that will be best for the long-term future of Weber State University.

[delts145]

http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/uploadedImages/ScowcroftExt1%20290x255.jpg

Since rehab, the sun has shone brightly on Scowcroft. Let's hope it spreads to other buildings in Ogden's Warehouse Historic District.

Building Name: Scowcroft Building
Location: Wall Avenue at 23rd Street, Ogden
Date of Contruction: 1906


Threat Status
Rehabilitated

http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/uploadedImages/ScowcroftInt1%20112x104.jpg

Scowcroft's interior atrium well.

Preservation Issues
This innovative project involved restoring the long-vacant and derelict Scowcroft Warehouse—using historic tax credits to make the project more economically feasible. The design included both LEED certification and remediation of environmentally hazardous materials as well as historic preservation and sensitive design of the site and the building’s exterior and interior. The building’s exterior was carefully restored and features a new, architecturally compatible entry on the east side.

According to Barbara Murphy of the State Historic Preservation Office, “the Scowcroft Warehouse is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Ogden’s warehouse area. This project is remarkable for the vision, cooperation and creativity exhibited by numerous agencies and individuals who understood the potential of this vacant warehouse and restored it to a fully occupied and viable building.”

The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, national standard that the US Green Building Council developed to define “green building” by establishing a common standard of measurement. LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. LEED identifies strategies for site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The Scowcroft Buildings “silver” designation was announced by USGBC last week.

Allen Roberts, AIA Lead Architect of the project for Cooper Roberts Simonsen Architects said, “The project is an excellent example of ‘green preservation,’ a blending of the values and methods of historic preservation with those of the sustainability or ‘green’ movement. The use of non-invasive ‘wall coring’ technology seismically upgraded the building without altering the exterior or interior of the perimeter masonry walls, thus preserving the historic fabric.”

Preserving most of the Scowcroft Building’s historic exterior was the key to qualifying for both historic tax credits as well as LEED certification. By reusing the existing shell, the designers preserved the integrity of original design, as well as minimized the need for the manufacture and shipping of new materials.

Mayor Matthew Godfrey of Ogden said, “the project protects critical lands, promotes air quality, and water conservation. It also contributes to the overall sense of community by encouraging a heightened level of business and social interaction. The Scowcroft building is an excellent example of how vision and good planning can promote re-use of existing buildings to revitalize and beautify a community.”



Top Right Architectural Detail Photo: Brian Griffin, Griffin PhotoDesign

[delts145]

:tup: Mass-transit vision will help Utahns

By John Florez


Gridlock, not vision! That was the answer Vancouver transit people gave when I asked how they had the vision to create such an efficient and user-friendly transportation system. That was in 1983 when we, as UTA board members, were considering the creation of light rail that is now TRAX. FLEXTRANS, designed to assist those with disabilities, was also part of the system.
Vancouver's system included an elaborate and synchronized array of buses, light rail and ferryboats. They said they had no choice but to change, as they did not have the luxury of the federal highway system the United States had created. Their city was laid out in a grid with automobiles inching along the city streets. Organizations move by one of two ways: leadership or crisis. It was the gridlock crisis that moved them. They found that wherever light rail was built, the area became revitalized with business and people.
Twenty-three years later, we have city-, county- and state-elected officials putting their parochial interests aside to create a common vision to deal with the problem of moving a growing population across the Wasatch Front. They, along with business and community leaders, have created Proposition 3, which brings the vision to the public for its consideration.
It is encouraging when elected officials put their vested interests aside to use their political capital for the public good. At a time when many politicians cannot see or do not care about anything beyond their political boundaries, they understood that doing nothing was no longer an option as they saw the problems of urban growth unfold along the Wasatch Front. They realized the problems of communities transcend artificial boundaries — the air we breathe, the water we drink and how we live, work, play together. Fortunately, they have focused their priorities on what is in the public's interest.
What is little understood is how getting from one place to another affects our relationships between families and communities. I often wonder how many families ask their loved ones to call them as they drive to work and breathe a sigh of relief when they get the call. Commuter rail will open up greater employment opportunities between communities and make it possible for family members to spend more time together. Can you imagine living in Provo and working in Ogden without the worry of traveling? Can you imagine how it would make it possible for people in West Valley City to work in Salt Lake City, or how this would help the west side of Salt Lake City become revitalized?
UTA's leaders have been consistent and focused on their mission. They never forgot they were in the business of moving people, not running a bus system. It is that kind of philosophy that has allowed UTA to work effectively with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and other entities responsible for moving people and bringing communities together. It has been key in molding a culture among leaders that has been a driving force in working for the public good rather than parochial interests. Furthermore, we now have leaders who have provided a vision for us to support on Nov. 7 rather than waiting for a crisis to make us move.
Thanks to the local leaders of today who have shown what good things can happen when people come together.


http://deseretnews.com/logos/jflorez.jpg

Utah native John Florez has founded several Hispanic civil rights organizations, served on the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch and on more than 45 state, local and volunteer boards. He also has been deputy assistant secretary of labor. E-MAIL: jdflorez@comcast.net

[delts145]

http://uol.sltrib.com/TribPhoto/photos/2005/webercountyrmg4_1204.jpg

http://umedesigns.com/images/IMG_2387-25th-Street.jpg

http://www.silogic.com/genealogy/Ogden,%20UT/200%2025th%20Street,%20Odgen,%20UT.jpg

http://www.silogic.com/genealogy/Ogden,%20UT/Frazzini%20and%20Bros%20Saloon,%20260%2025th%20St,%20Odgen,%20UT.jpg

http://www.silogic.com/genealogy/Ogden,%20UT/St%20Joseph%20Church%20-%20Ogden%20Utah.jpg

http://travel.utah.gov/destinations/images/Union_Pacific_Station_-_Ogden1.jpg

http://hikinglog.com/images/2004/DCP_7829.JPG

http://hikinglog.com/images/2004/DCP_7827.JPG

[delts145]

http://activepaper.olivesoftware.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=SSE/2006/10/29/1/Img/Pc0010700.jpg

[leebuddy]

:previous: Ogden city does have some nice projects going on right now. where did you found that page delts?

[delts145]

:previous:
I found it by accident. It was on a page for the promotion of Ogden ski resort's. Go to the Resort's thread. The post with the Wolf Creek development.

[delts145]

One of several important outdoor sporting companies moving headquarters to Ogden, Utah
http://deseretnews.com/photos/web1017amer.jpg


State officials have added outdoor products and recreation to their list of "economic clusters," or industry sectors the state will give special focus to for economic development.
Among the reasons cited for the addition is that several winter sports companies have moved or announced moves of at least some of their operations to Ogden; the move of the headquarters of U.S. Speedskating, the sport's national governing body, from Ohio to Utah to be near the Olympic Oval; the state serving as the site of the semi-annual Outdoor Retailer convention; and the state's five national parks and 41 state recreation sites.
The state government Web site lists the following as clusters: life sciences, software development and information technology, aerospace, financial services, energy and natural resources, and "competitive accelerators."

[delts145]

Wednesday, November, 2006

By Rachel J. Trotter
Standard-Examiner correspondent

http://thumb4.webshots.com/s/thumb4/1/9/16/91910916OVSnbd_th.jpg
Historic Country Boy Dairy sign

http://umedesigns.com/images/IMG_2387-25th-Street.jpg
Historic 25th Street

NORTH OGDEN -- Commercial development is definitely on the rise in North Ogden.
Developer Ron Hancock proposed a concept plan to the city that would turn 40 acres of undeveloped land around Country Boy Dairy, 1700 N. Washington Blvd., into commercial property.

If the city decides to annex the 40 acres, Hancock has plans to develop two big-box stores, several restaurants and at least a strip mall and office space.

The city will look at the annexation petition Nov. 14.

"I wanted to bring this to you to see what you think, if you are interested," Hancock told the City Council during a recent meeting.

Hancock's family owns Country Boy Dairy, which has been an active dairy until recently.

"We are not using the space for a dairy any more and wanted to look into other things," Hancock said. This past year, he started developing other land in the area for homes.

The immediate concept plan would allow for the actual retail Country Boy Dairy site to stay in place, along with the adjacent residence where Hancock's mother lives.

Hancock would use Washington Boulevard as the main access, an issue he discussed with Utah Department of Transportation officials when they did a corridor preservation study last year.

"They said they would allow for some access," he said.

City Councilman Steve Huntsman approves of Hancock's plan.

"I think this is a good place with access to Washington. I'd like to see more retail off the beaten path like this concept."

According to a map given to the city, most of Hancock's acreage is off Washington Boulevard and behind the dairy. Only a few blocks of space are on Washington, but Hancock believes that will work for access.

There is already an access point with a driveway, but he said he is unsure about what would happen if that property changes to commercial.

Hancock has been talking with some commercial businesses, but said he is not ready to name any potential tenants.

However, he said he hopes to have the area annexed into the city so development can break ground by spring.

City Councilwoman Martha Harris said, "These are exciting times for our city."

Hancock said the commercial and residential development to the west and south "would be a nice legacy for our family."

[delts145]

Associated Press

OGDEN — Fresenius Medical Care, a provider of dialysis products, will be adding up to 700 new jobs with a $200 million plant expansion.

http://www.fresenius-ag.com/internet/fag/com/faginpub.nsf/650f3eec0dfb990fca25692100069854/cbce6ee9a6c152e2c125700e00486f58/WebPageBody/0.8A?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=jpg
Aerial view of current Ogden plant

The expansion will add up to 500,000 square feet, increasing the size of its production facility to more than 1 million square feet on the north side of the city. Fresenius already has 1,300 workers there.
The Weber school board voted to allow the company to have 12.6 acres. The school district will move its maintenance and transportation offices elsewhere.
"In brotherhood between Weber School District and Ogden city, we are willing to make the move. It will cost our taxpayers nothing," said Drew Wilson, the district's facilities director.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development has agreed to provide financial incentives for Fresenius, including a refund of up to 30 percent of state taxes over 10 years.
Fresenius, based in Germany, has 2,085 dialysis clinics in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, according to the company's Web site.

[SmilingBob]

Odgen City's redevelopment page.

http://www.ogdencity.com/img/downtown/downtown.gif

[delts145]

Gondolas big fun or big flops, Ogden study finds
By Kristen Moulton
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated:12/15/2006 12:35:48 AM MST
http://www.sevenseastahoe.com/images/gondola_sm.jpg

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/travel/ski/ami/28/200_gondola_vista2.jpg
The Canyons Ski Resort

OGDEN - Gondolas and trams have been both colossal failures and tourist magnets, a survey conducted for the Ogden City Council has found.
The council asked its communications specialist to identify urban gondola or tram systems so it will be better informed when Mayor Matthew Godfrey proposes a city gondola that would be funded, in part, by the sale of the Mount Ogden Golf Course.
Godfrey envisions a four-mile-long gondola running from downtown to the east-side foothills near Weber State University. There, it would link to a mountain gondola to a proposed ski resort in remote Malans Basin above the city.
The council decided not to travel to Telluride, Colo., to ride the 10-year-old gondola that carries more than 2 million people per year.
“It seemed a bit premature,” said Amy Wicks, the council's vice chair.
The comparisons of three cable-ways that have been tried in the United States and one in Colombia in South America revealed a variety of experiences - from the failure of MART, built for the 1984 New Orleans World Fair, to the success of the gondola linking Telluride to the Mountain Village above.
The study also looked at the tram now under construction and far over budget in Portland, Ore., as well as a gondola proposed for Baltimore and a tram suggested to link Philadelphia with Camden, N.J.
Trams and gondolas are both considered aerial cableways, but a trams are much larger. Only two trams are carried on aerial cables, while dozens of gondolas are carried that way.
The biggest flop listed in the survey was the $8 million Mississippi Aerial Rapid Transit system, which carried riders over the river during the World's Fair. Even at its peak, ridership was half the projected 1.7 million, and developers could not attract enough riders to pay for operational costs.
The gondola linking Telluride to the Mountain Village area, in place for a decade, has been a success even though only 3,500 people live in the area. Tourists make up the bulk of the 2 million-plus riders every year.
Opponents of Godfrey's vision say a streetcar would make more sense for central Ogden.

[delts145]

This would be another great coup for Ogden if it happens. I continue to be impressed with the Huntsman administration and the way it does business.

Funds an enticement for firm to stay in Utah and significantly expand operations.

By Brice Wallace
Deseret Morning News
An aerospace company was awarded a $10.1 million incentive Friday to entice it to move its current facility, relocate out-of-state manufacturing operations to Utah and add 900 new jobs over 20 years rather than move operations to Singapore.
The Governor's Office of Economic Development Board approved the incentives for Barnes Aerospace.
"They do high-end manufacturing of titanium and aerospace structures and making things for military aircraft," said board member Mark Howell. "These are really good-type jobs that bring good skills to the people who have those jobs."
The company would receive $1 million from the Industrial Assistance Fund — half upon completing the move of its existing Ogden facility into the Business Depot Ogden and half upon completing a relocation to Utah of an out-of-state manufacturing operation. It also could receive a tax rebate of up to $2.1 million over the first 10 years of the deal, contingent on paying new employees at least 170 percent of the Weber County median wage.
The IAF money can be recovered by the state if the expansion is not open for business by the end of 2008 or if new state revenue over the life of the project is insufficient to justify the combined incentives provided by the state, board documents state.
Over the next five years, the company could get another rebate of up to $3 million based on the creation of 600 net new jobs, compared with the previous decade. The five years after that, it could get a rebate of up to $4 million based on 300 more new jobs.
"Their biggest problem is they're out of space" in Ogden, board Chairman David Simmons said. "They can't grow in their existing facility and they want to bring more work in here. ... This is right in the sweet spot of what we want to incent."
Barnes Aerospace had sought $3.2 million in IAF money to move to BDO and $7.5 million to expand the Ogden facility. Board documents say the relocations would result in Ogden retaining 145 existing jobs and that the company's capital investment is expected to be $12 million.
Business Depot Ogden/Ogden City has offered a $1.6 million incentive in the form of $100,000 in free rent in an existing building while the new facility is constructed, $500,000 in free land and $1 million in no-cost building improvements.
But Singapore has put out an offer for Barnes that features a seven-year tax-free structure and a 20 percent corporate tax incentive. Utah officials said the Singapore offer is estimated at $20 million to $30 million.
Barnes Aerospace, based in Windsor, Conn., produces machined and fabricated components and assemblies for aircraft engine and airframe builders and does component overhauls and repairs for commercial airlines and the military.
Barnes Aerospace is a primary business of Barnes Group Inc., which was founded in 1857 and is based in Bristol, Conn. It has three businesses with a total of about 4,000 workers at more than 40 locations worldwide. Under the Associated Spring Corp. name, the company went public in 1946, began being listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1963 and switched to its current name in 1976.
Jeff Edwards, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Utah, described the Barnes Aerospace incentive approved Friday as "a great use of the (incentive) program."
"I really think this is an outstanding example of how this incentive should be used," he said. "This is a post-performance rebate program that is helping to incent a specific employer to do a specific thing. I think the way that the structure of this is put together is very well thought-out."
The GOED board on Friday also approved an incentive of up to $300,000 in IAF money for Smith Sport Optics to upgrade its Clearfield facility, retain 201 jobs and create 64 new jobs. The manufacturer and distributor of ski goggles would receive half the money after the facility is upgraded and half after the jobs are added, at $2,500 per job. It must commit to stay in operation in Utah for 10 years and pay new workers 137 percent of the Davis County median.
Smith has a manufacturing agreement with DFG in Clearfield and is pursuing an acquisition of the company. It plans to move accounting and customer service positions to Clearfield. Without the incentive, Smith would probably close the Clearfield DFG facility and move out of Utah, board documents indicate, with Denver and Texas also trying to land the operations.
Smith Sports Optics was founded in 1970 and its current parent company is Safilo SpA.


-------------------------------------------------------

[delts145]

Ogden Best Western recognized for design

Before Pic
http://image.pegs.com/images/BW/45050/45050_b1a.jpg

After Pics
http://images.travelnow.com/hotelimages/s/010000/010271B.jpg
http://images.unitedstates.biz/hotelimages/s/010000/010271A.jpg

Best Western International announced that the Best Western High Country Inn in Ogden was named 2006 Best of the Best Design award winner for outstanding design renovation.
Judging was based on standards established and used by the American Society of Interior Design to assess interior and exterior design work. Winners are chosen from each of the hotel's North American regions, from which an overall winner is chosen.

[SLC Projects]

Odgen City's redevelopment page.

http://www.ogdencity.com/img/downtown/downtown.gif

Even Ogden has alot going on.

[SLC Projects]

Other then just building projects going on Ogdan's freeway is getting a facelifted. Here's an update on that..............


31st South Exit in Ogden Closed Until Tomorrow Morning
December 20th, 2006 @ 5:20pm


Southbound I-15 is closed between 21st Street and 31st Street this hour after UDOT crews grew concerned about the stability of a bridge set to be demolished.

A massive pile of concrete and metal debris now sits on top of I-15. Traffic was passing over the south side of this bridge as recently as yesterday. Demolition was planned for tonight, but prep work apparently weakened the structure.

Andy Neff, UDOT spokesman: "The beams were beginning to buckle slightly. We didn't have anything fall on the freeway, but to bear on the side of safety, rather than risk an accident, we believe it was in the best interest of the traveling public to close it and move ahead with the demolition".

Crews are hoping to have the freeway reopened by tomorrow morning.

They're diverting traffic to off-ramps before the the 31st Street exits, and then back onto I-15 South after the 21st Street on-ramp.

[SLC Projects]

Minor-League Team Proposes Park Expansion in Ogden
January 4th, 2007 @ 2:45pm

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- The Ogden Raptors are a hot ticket. The team is proposing a $3 million expansion at Lindquist Field that would raise the number of seats to as many as 6,500. The Raptors play in the Pioneer League and are affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They averaged more than 3,500 fans last season. City planners recommended approval yesterday and sent the plan to Ogden's mayor. The team and city would share the cost of the project.

[Utaaah!]

Good news for Ogden! The Raptors and their ballpark are trememdous assets for the city. I would love to see renderings.

[SLC Projects]

I wasn't sure what would be the best thread to put this story in. Odgan is
about the closest to Logan.


Logan: Merchants clamoring for downtown hotel
But the mayor is backing a plan to build a conference center and lodging to the south
By Kristen Moulton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/08/2007 01:11:21 AM MST

It has been almost five years since Logan - with much fanfare - staged a round of brainstorming sessions to come up with a long-range plan for its quaint and yet far-too-quiet downtown.
One of the key goals of "The Future for Downtown Logan" was to bring in a conference center and hotel. Such a magnet would be the catalyst for rejuvenating a historic district that for decades has suffered a loss of foot traffic.
That never happened, and now downtown merchants are livid with Logan Mayor Randy Watts for his reluctance to embrace a Marriott hotel that investors wanted to build on a prominent downtown corner.
Instead, Watts is sticking by the decisions of the previous mayor,
Doug Thompson, and City Council to encourage Wasatch Property Management to build a conference center and hotel seven blocks south of the city center.
"That train has left the station," Logan City Attorney Kymber Housley declared Friday.
Watts said it would make no sense to drop the developer, Wasatch Property, in what he called "the eleventh hour."
"We've gone through this whole thing for five years, and now we have the person with the money and the property," the mayor said.
All parties agree Logan is not yet big enough for two high-class hotels. And emotions are high in part because Wasatch Properties has applied to become a Marriott franchisee at
Advertisement

its south Logan site.
"It's sad. It really and truly is," said Lynn Hicken, co-owner of the men's clothing store - Kater Shop - and another downtown business. "Our city fathers lack the vision to do something that could revitalize downtown."
Gene Needham, a member of the board of Logan Downtown Alliance and co-owner of S.E. Needham Jewelers, calls it "absurd" that the city is allowing its conference center to go up south of the historic downtown.
Not only does Wasatch Property's site have traffic challenges because there is no stoplight nearby on the busy U.S. 89-91 that is Logan's Main Street, it's a long hike to Logan's downtown restaurants, shops, performing-arts center and LDS Tabernacle, he said.
"Truly they are putting it in the wrong place. The city is attempting to fill a blighted location with the gem of our tourist effort."
Needham is hopeful downtown merchants can persuade Wasatch Properties' Dell Loy Hansen to shift gears and build his hotel on the corner of 200 North.
That site is too small for a conference center, but the center could be built about a block away on a vacant parcel owned by Cache County, across the street from the new state courthouse, Needham argues.
The Logan Downtown Alliance made its case in a press release issued Friday.
Wasatch Properties, in its own statement Friday, said its $60 million project already under way at 700 S. Main St. "will benefit the vitality of downtown and Logan City overall."
The Logan-based company, which owns office buildings in several states, already explored the option of building downtown, but there was not a site large enough, the company said in its statement.
Wasatch Properties needs a minimum of 15 acres for its office building - now under construction seven blocks to the south - a retail building, restaurant, parking for 600, hotel with 119 rooms and conference center with at least 20,000 square feet, the company said.
Further, the developer has no interest in separating the hotel from the conference center, as the downtown merchants suggest.
"Our studies confirm that it would be a fatal mistake," the company said.
One of the bones downtown merchants have to pick with Watts is that for the past year, he has told them he would listen to any proposals for the corner of 200 South and Main Street, which the city owns and which the previous administration wanted for government use. The tire store there closed last spring, though a title company remains in office space.
At a Dec. 14 meeting with the mayor, however, it quickly became clear to the investors - who own other Utah Marriott properties and who the merchants wooed to the city - that the new mayor is committed to the success of Wasatch Properties' hotel and conference center, not one downtown. The meeting ended abruptly.
The investors, who could not be reached for comment, are no longer pursuing the Logan site, Needham said.
Housley describes the concept he and the mayor were given that day as "too nebulous to take serious"- a suggestion the merchants reject.
For his part, Watts said he believes downtown is close enough that it will benefit from the conference center, which will be served by shuttle buses.
Needham acknowledges that merchants should have been louder in their opposition 14 months ago when the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency board, approved tax-increment financing - essentially a $4.8 million property tax rebate - to Wasatch Properties.
His own brother and business partner, Joe Needham, was among the council members who approved the incentive.
"We probably could have and should have done more at the time," Gene Needham said Friday.
kmoulton@sltrib.com



I've only been to Logan a few times but the city has a nice main street feel with old buildings and green space with there temple and parks. They better keep all there old buildngs on main street. :yes:

[Utaaah!]

Good news for Odgen...

Ogden landmark: American Can sale is a sealed deal
Amer Sports Corp., which sells skiing and diving gear, is lined up as the first tenant
By Kristen Moulton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:01/13/2007 12:19:58 AM MST

OGDEN - The American Can buildings in downtown Ogden, a massive complex of historic structures that were vacant for decades, have a new owner and are close to getting their first business tenant.
But the tenant will not be a high-tech company, as Ogden envisioned when the city pitched the idea of a High Tech Center to the Utah Legislature five years ago and won $900,000 in state funding to buy the buildings.
Instead, American Can will become home to Amer Sports Corp.'s Winter & Outdoor Americas unit, which sells Salomon and Atomic skis, as well as Suunto watches and other diving instruments.
Company president and Salt Lake City native Mike Dowse said this week that he hopes to move in by early to mid-summer, bringing up to 130 jobs to Ogden, including roughly 40 current employees who now work in Oregon, New Hampshire and California.
Jon Peddie, a developer in Steamboat Springs, Colo., said he acquired the bulk of the American Can property - all but the building that houses DaVinci Academy of Sciences and the Arts - late Friday afternoon. He declined to reveal the purchase price.
Amer Sports will be the first to lease space - a 58,000 square-foot building on the western side of the property along Lincoln Avenue.
Dowse said reusing a historic structure - American Can structures were built from 1914 to 1920 as a cannery for northern Utah's then-thriving vegetable farms - fits well with his company's ethics, and he plans to use the basement for a bicycle garage to encourage employees to pedal to work.
"One of the reasons we're coming to Ogden is, we see the mayor's vision," said Dowse.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey has spent the past two years promoting Ogden as the West's new recreational hub, with nearby ski resorts, two rivers and mountains.
The pitch has worked, where the mayor's previous attempt to lure high-technology companies did not.
Amer Sports, headquartered in Finland, is the 11th - and largest - recreational company to relocate to Ogden in fewer than two years.
Godfrey said earlier this week that he hopes high-tech companies will move to Ogden once the city's cachet as a recreational hub is evident.
When Godfrey went to the Legislature in 2002, he described a technology, educational and research campus that would have high school and college students collaborating with technical experts, professors and successful entrepreneurs.
The American Can buildings were purchased in 2004, but tenants have been hard to find.
Today's vision for the American Can complex still includes technology, but to a lesser degree.
Dave Harmer, the city's director of economic development, said the city's Business Information Center, which supports small business, will move there, and the city is hoping to lure an Ogden-based venture fund, as well as Weber State University's small-business center.
The charter school already in one American Can building - DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts - emphasizes science.
Peddie, the Colorado developer, said he will work with Salt Lake City and Ogden brokers to fill up the space - about 170,000 square feet after Amer Sports is finished.
"We would like to see high-tech there. At the same time, you know, we'd like to see somebody there."
He has not ruled out the possibility of loft apartments above offices in the taller buildings.
Peddie said he's considering whether to use the boiler building next to the old American Can smokestack as a public space of some sort.
"It might be donated to some user that could manage it for public functions."
Peddie acquired the buildings from Ogden Community Foundation, which, shortly before the closing, took possession of the property from a business consortium that had owned American Can since mid-2004. The foundation is a nonprofit created by Ogden City to receive gifts and grants, Harmer said.
Amer Sports is getting tax-rebate incentives worth nearly $8 million from the Governor's Office of Economic Development to come to Utah.
kmoultonsltrib.com


What has to happen?

* The Ogden City Council, acting as the city's Redevelopment Agency Board, will have to ink a development agreement with the new owner of the property, Colorado developer Jon Peddie.

How the buildings will be used

* Although Amer Sports has said it could eventually employ 230 in Ogden for its ski and diving-instrument business, current plans are for 120 to 130 jobs in Ogden, including about a dozen at a repair center at Business Depot Ogden, located north of downtown.

[SLC Projects]

That's good news for downtown Odgen. It will help the downtown area out and bring more workers and people to that area.

[SLC Projects]

Farmington sets sights on doubling of its retail

Work progressing on complex planned next to rail station
By Nicole Warburton
Deseret Morning News
Work is once again progressing on a high-end retail development to center around a commuter-rail station in the southwest corner of Farmington in Davis County.
Architect's rendering of proposed Station Park development in Farmington shows a mix of shops, housing and office spaces. (Rendering by Centercal Properties, LLC)
Rendering by Centercal Properties, LLC
Architect's rendering of proposed Station Park development in Farmington shows a mix of shops, housing and office spaces.
Station Park would add close to 1 million square feet of retail space to Farmington — more than doubling what the city already has.
Earlier this month, city officials signed off on a development agreement to allow a new owner to purchase the land where Station Park is to be built. The purchase should be completed by May, and work on roads and utilities within the project is likely to begin this fall, said Fred Bruning, president of CenterCal Properties.
The project is scheduled to be done sometime in 2009. When finished, Bruning anticipates that Station Park will become a destination point for shoppers in Davis County. The development is to have a mixture of small and large shops, housing and office spaces — similar to the Gateway mall in downtown Salt Lake City.
"The quality of what we build is a lot better than what exists there in Davis County," Bruning said in an interview Friday. "What you have is a lot of K-Marts. It's not quality in terms of the architecture and tenant mix."
The Station Park project aims to be pedestrian-friendly and have a good mix of shopping, housing and office space. The development also will be accessible by commuter rail.
The Utah Transit Authority is currently building a commuter-rail line from Salt Lake City to Pleasant View in Weber County. The line, and the stations, are expected to be finished in 2008.
Last summer, Farmington developer Rich Haws, the present owner of Station Park, decided to sell his development concept and several dozen acres planned for Station Park to CenterCal Properties. Before CenterCal agreed to purchase the land, however, it had to work out several issues with the development agreement for Station Park.
Top issues with the plan involved how to manage traffic in the area and provide access to Station Park. Farmington Mayor Scott Harbertson said Friday that he was pleased with the agreement, although he admitted that the city was stepping into new territory in terms of the scope and size of the development.
"This is the first time we've ever done anything like this," Harbertson said. "It's kind of a leap of faith, and you have to give a little latitude to the developer to build a project it feels is successful."
CenterCal Properties has worked on several large developments, including Jordan Landing in West Jordan. It has also done projects in California and Oregon that are centered around mass transit, similar to Station Park.

[delts145]

:previous:

Okay bud, this page needs a splash of color about now so let's just use your post as the excuse.
http://centeroak.com/images/stationpark/stationpark_rendering.jpg


Ehhhh, let's stick a cool icon in here too.............

:banaride: :banaride: :banaride: :banaride: :banaride: :banaride: :banaride: :banaride:

[SLC Projects]

Good call delts. :yes: That is a very colorful rending.

[Utaaah!]

The DNews article above included a new site plan for Station Park:
http://deseretnews.com/photos/0114station.jpg

It distinctly mentions residential along the main retail "street".

[delts145]

Ogden Gondola: Developer could own, operate it; city might not sell golf course
By Kristen Moulton

The Salt Lake Tribune



Chris Peterson, who wants to build a resort in the mountains above Ogden and a gondola to reach the resort, may make "significant" changes in his proposal before formally filing it with Ogden City this winter, Mayor Matthew Godfrey said Monday.
Godfrey, in a meeting with The Salt Lake Tribune's editorial board, said Peterson may not buy the Mount Ogden Golf Course, as previously envisioned, and the developer may propose that he own - as well as operate - a gondola from downtown to the foothills.
"There may be some very significant changes in the next three weeks," Godfrey said. "We are looking at doing this without selling the golf course."
Peterson could not be reached Monday for comment.
The mayor said the developer has been revising his plan after listening to public comments made last spring in a series of forums that drew hundreds of residents.
Many residents in this northern Utah community of 78,000 - the mayor insists it's a majority - embrace the notion of a gondola from downtown linking to the foothills, where it would link up with a mountain gondola leading to Peterson's resort in Malans Basin.
Others object that the city should not sell one of its chief assets: a large swath of open space, including the golf course, in the foothills on the east side of the city.
As presented in forums last spring, Peterson wanted to buy the golf course and reconfigure it as part of a 400-home subdivision that would also cover about 50 acres of land now owned by the city above the golf course and 150 acres belonging to Weber State University.
The housing project, which would include a small commercial area where the urban and mountain gondolas would meet above WSU's campus, would provide the money for Peterson to build the resort and gondolas, he said.
Previously, the mayor has advocated that the city sell the golf course to Peterson and use the money to pay most of the costs of building a gondola that would run from downtown to the hillside above WSU.
The mayor said Monday that he had committed to raising $5 million from private sources toward the costs, with the golf-course sale providing the remaining $20 million to $25 million. Peterson would have operated the urban gondola for the city, linking it with his own mountain gondola.
The new idea - the mayor described it as "evolving" - is for Peterson to build, own and operate the urban gondola as well as the mountain gondola.
Peterson would strike an agreement with Utah Transit Authority so commuter-rail riders arriving in downtown Ogden would be able to transfer to Peterson's gondola to WSU without paying any more than they would pay for a bus ticket, Godfrey said.
FrontRunner commuter rail is due to reach Ogden next year.
Godfrey rejected the notion of allowing Ogden residents to vote - even in a nonbinding referendum - on the project he has described as the biggest thing to hit Ogden since the railroad in the 1800s.
It would set a precedent for the public to vote on even inconsequential decisions, subverting the democratic process, he said.
Godfrey did not rule out a city-sponsored poll, but said none is planned.
The mayor also said while Peterson's proposed resort would not "initially" connect to Snowbasin ski resort on the east side of the mountain, he's convinced the two resorts ultimately would link up.
"I don't think there's any doubt. It's my opinion the two will eventually connect."
A senior vice president for Snowbasin's owner, The Sinclair Companies, sent Godfrey a letter last spring asking him to stop saying there is a connection between the two resorts.
"The two resorts will not connect," Sinclair's Clint Ensign said in an interview.
The Sinclair Companies is owned by Earl Holding, Chris Peterson's father-in-law. Peterson formerly worked for the company.
He makes no claim that his resort will connect to Snowbasin, but has pointed out that it took Alta and Snowbird many years of operating as neighbors before they allowed skiers to pass between the resorts.

[delts145]

I wasn't sure what would be the best thread to put this story in. Ogden is
about the closest to Logan.


Logan: Merchants clamoring for downtown hotel
But the mayor is backing a plan to build a conference center and lodging to the south
By Kristen Moulton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/08/2007 01:11:21 AM MST

It has been almost five years since Logan - with much fanfare - staged a round of brainstorming sessions to come up with a long-range plan for its quaint and yet far-too-quiet downtown.
One of the key goals of "The Future for Downtown Logan" was to bring in a conference center and hotel. Such a magnet would be the catalyst for rejuvenating a historic district that for decades has suffered a loss of foot traffic.
That never happened, and now downtown merchants are livid with Logan Mayor Randy Watts for his reluctance to embrace a Marriott hotel that investors wanted to build on a prominent downtown corner.
Instead, Watts is sticking by the decisions of the previous mayor,
Doug Thompson, and City Council to encourage Wasatch Property Management to build a conference center and hotel seven blocks south of the city center.
"That train has left the station," Logan City Attorney Kymber Housley declared Friday.
Watts said it would make no sense to drop the developer, Wasatch Property, in what he called "the eleventh hour."
"We've gone through this whole thing for five years, and now we have the person with the money and the property," the mayor said.
All parties agree Logan is not yet big enough for two high-class hotels. And emotions are high in part because Wasatch Properties has applied to become a Marriott franchisee at
Advertisement

its south Logan site.
"It's sad. It really and truly is," said Lynn Hicken, co-owner of the men's clothing store - Kater Shop - and another downtown business. "Our city fathers lack the vision to do something that could revitalize downtown."
Gene Needham, a member of the board of Logan Downtown Alliance and co-owner of S.E. Needham Jewelers, calls it "absurd" that the city is allowing its conference center to go up south of the historic downtown.
Not only does Wasatch Property's site have traffic challenges because there is no stoplight nearby on the busy U.S. 89-91 that is Logan's Main Street, it's a long hike to Logan's downtown restaurants, shops, performing-arts center and LDS Tabernacle, he said.
"Truly they are putting it in the wrong place. The city is attempting to fill a blighted location with the gem of our tourist effort."
Needham is hopeful downtown merchants can persuade Wasatch Properties' Dell Loy Hansen to shift gears and build his hotel on the corner of 200 North.
That site is too small for a conference center, but the center could be built about a block away on a vacant parcel owned by Cache County, across the street from the new state courthouse, Needham argues.
The Logan Downtown Alliance made its case in a press release issued Friday.
Wasatch Properties, in its own statement Friday, said its $60 million project already under way at 700 S. Main St. "will benefit the vitality of downtown and Logan City overall."
The Logan-based company, which owns office buildings in several states, already explored the option of building downtown, but there was not a site large enough, the company said in its statement.
Wasatch Properties needs a minimum of 15 acres for its office building - now under construction seven blocks to the south - a retail building, restaurant, parking for 600, hotel with 119 rooms and conference center with at least 20,000 square feet, the company said.
Further, the developer has no interest in separating the hotel from the conference center, as the downtown merchants suggest.
"Our studies confirm that it would be a fatal mistake," the company said.
One of the bones downtown merchants have to pick with Watts is that for the past year, he has told them he would listen to any proposals for the corner of 200 South and Main Street, which the city owns and which the previous administration wanted for government use. The tire store there closed last spring, though a title company remains in office space.
At a Dec. 14 meeting with the mayor, however, it quickly became clear to the investors - who own other Utah Marriott properties and who the merchants wooed to the city - that the new mayor is committed to the success of Wasatch Properties' hotel and conference center, not one downtown. The meeting ended abruptly.
The investors, who could not be reached for comment, are no longer pursuing the Logan site, Needham said.
Housley describes the concept he and the mayor were given that day as "too nebulous to take serious"- a suggestion the merchants reject.
For his part, Watts said he believes downtown is close enough that it will benefit from the conference center, which will be served by shuttle buses.
Needham acknowledges that merchants should have been louder in their opposition 14 months ago when the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency board, approved tax-increment financing - essentially a $4.8 million property tax rebate - to Wasatch Properties.
His own brother and business partner, Joe Needham, was among the council members who approved the incentive.
"We probably could have and should have done more at the time," Gene Needham said Friday.
kmoulton@sltrib.com



I've only been to Logan a few times but the city has a nice main street feel with old buildings and green space with there temple and parks. They better keep all there old buildngs on main street. :yes:


Press Release from Logan Downtown Alliance

http://utahreach.org/cache/civic/pics/logan1.jpg

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/images/wallpaper/twilight/logan_lds_mormon_temple.jpg?1140417837

http://www.go-utah.com/UT/images/photos/logan-tb-tabernacle-03.jpg

http://www.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles13587.jpg
Posted: 10:34 AM- January 4, 2007

http://www.usoperaweb.com/2001/images/utah.jpg


The Logan Downtown Alliance urges Logan City to offer incentives necessary for Wasatch Properties Hospitality Division to locate a hotel and conference center in historic downtown Logan. This would create a win-win situation for Wasatch Properties, Historic Downtown Logan, and Logan City. The Downtown Alliance invites Wasatch to the location that has been determined to be the "best location in Cache Valley for an upscale hotel" by an independent consulting firm. This location would be in the best interest of the community, the guests, and hotel investors. When Wasatch made plans to place a hospitality facility on 700 South Main, the prime corner at 200 North still housed a business and was not available, however now that has changed, creating the potential for them to use the ultimate piece of real estate in the valley for a hotel. Further, the city has an obligation to the businesses downtown to follow through on the Future Plan of Downtown Logan it voted to adopt in 2001 which called for a hotel and convention center as an anchor in downtown.
The Logan Downtown Alliance has worked with Marriott over the past several months to establish interest in the Logan market. The Marriott corporation has repeatedly stated that the 200 North corner is their location of choice. Visitors to Cache Valley have repeatedly asked for higher quality accommodations in historic downtown Logan.
Cache County prefers a neutral location for a conference center that would be supported by tax dollars generated from other hotels in the valley. The County has expressed concern that the hotel tax would be levied on all hotel rooms in the valley, but that at the 700 South Main location, the money would seem to unfairly favor the single hotel that is connected or associated with the conference center. They are much more comfortable with a centrally located conference center such as the southwest corner of the county block. This location is walk-able from more than five other hotel properties.
With a project of this magnitude, a long term parking solution could be created. This project would also trigger the newly formed RDA in the historic downtown area.
The city of Logan has hired many consultants and brought in many experts over the years. Without exception, they marvel at our downtown and mention it as a jewel that is unique in its vibrancy and culture. This is the result of strong, determined citizens and merchants that have kept downtown alive against all adds and community development trends. Revitalization is a continual process that will never be done, but is much less expensive now when done on an ongoing basis than to let downtown dwindle into the decay that downtown Ogden has struggled with for years, or requires the type of investment that downtown Salt Lake City is now undergoing. A Marriott in downtown will serve the citizens of the valley by providing the economic vitality that will preserve Logan as a unique and special place to live, and attract tourists by giving them the type of amenities that they expect while visiting the rich cultural attractions for which Logan is known.
Hence, the Logan Downtown Alliance strongly proposes that Wasatch Properties Hospitality Division be brought to locate in historic downtown Logan, specifically on the 200 North corner with the conference center on the adjacent county block.

Please feel free to call Gene Needham with any questions
435-751-7149 work
435-764-1896 cell

[SLC Projects]

I wonder if Logan will get a mid to highrise hotel like what PG and Lehi are getting. :rolleyes:

[delts145]

:tup: :tup: In Los Angeles I have seen countless neighborhoods that had become ghetto make a tremendous turnaround due to the Latino influence.

Weber County
By Derek P. Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune



OGDEN - Carmen Ponce Deleon's "carneceria" is a beacon glimmering through the chaos of street-worn winos, drug-ridden rentals, a hard-luck school and derelicts sleeping in forsaken cars.
Inside El Rodeo Meat Market, cinnamon scents and Latin guitar meld with piles of peppers, freshly sliced pig, pink and purple pi atas. A Corona beer sign glows against silver cauldrons for steaming tamales. Spanish-speaking grocers assist a steady stream of regulars, from children to grandparents.
"They feel like a family," says Ponce Deleon, a 42-year-old native of Chihuahua, Mexico, in seamless English.
In less than five years, Carmen and husband Jaime have taken the former boxing gym and punched promise into part of Utah's once second-most populated city, a place many say suffers from a midlife crisis.
Rich in railroad history, and later sustained by military-industrial jobs, Ogden now is scratching to find a defining industry. Some suggest skiing - Snowbasin hosted the 2002 Olympic downhill - while politicians plot a gondola over the rooftops to transform the working-class town into a high-end winter playground. Others clamor for consistent work. Any new jobs will do.
All the while, the county hub has itself been defined by a demographic shift that has literally changed its face. According to estimates, nearly 30 percent of Ogden is now Latino - more than three times the state average.
It is these immigrants, entrepreneurs like Carmen and Jaime, who are turning cast-off corners into places where neighbors gather.

Feels Like Home
During lunch rush, Ponce Deleon calmly helps her cadre of loyal employees and greets customers who are gathering everything from "menudo" and other meats to "tamarindo," stocked to mollify the middle school children across the street. Teachers, too, buy the spicy candy to reward good students.
Carmen and Jaime, along with their three kids, bolted Anaheim, Calif. and a carpet cleaning business in 2000 when the gangs and congestion became too much. They like the pace of Weber County - the family lives in nearby Harrisville - but took a gamble on the market. Within months it was profitable, leading the newcomers to open a second store and begin delivering groceries by van.
"Around here, there are a lot of people who don't have cars," Ponce Deleon says, adding the community reminds her of Chihuahua.
Still, it has unique problems, forcing the family to monitor the store by camera. A police sting last month notched dozens of drug arrests along the dilapidated blocks near the business.
It stands in cold contrast from the mansion-style homes emerging along the county's east-side timberline, near the ski areas, or the meandering rows of barns and horse trailers to the west.
Ponce Deleon doesn't seem to mind as she points to a plaque above the counter. It is an award issued by the city for helping to turn the neighborhood around.
"I never imagined retiring here," she says, smiling. "Now, I'm looking forward to it."

A Road Reborn
Less than a mile down the road, "Two-bit Street," or Historic 25th, is in the final stages of a renaissance. Whether a turn toward Park City, complete with yoga studio, is a good thing depends on who you ask.
Inside Rooster's, Kym Buttschardt's booming restaurant brewery, residents say a string of eateries, boutiques, museums and especially the loft-style living suggest the county's "crown jewel" is back.
"It's become a destination," Buttschardt says about the street notorious for gambling, brothels, biker bars and decades of drunkenness. "We call it the 'mountain to metro' effect."
Nearly two years at the helm of an unlikely sushi bar, Adam Nouansacksy agrees. "It's definitely getting cleaned up," he says, wrapping rolls at Shin Sei, Japanese for "newborn star."
Buttschardt and her husband now own three restaurants. Such entrepreneurship, she says, is key to recasting Ogden's otherwise foundering downtown.
On a bar stool a block down, Ko Ko Mo owner Eddie Simone weaves tales of wilder times on the street where he grew up. Instructed by nuns around the corner at St. Joseph Elementary by day, Simone spent afternoons selling newspapers on 25th and tormenting the madam at Rose's Room, a brothel. At 21, he bought the bar, which kept him from working "a ho-hum job at Hill Field."
"I used to leave the house and wonder who I was going to get into a fight with," he recalls.
Now 65, and also running a bail bonds business, Simone longs for the edgier times. He lights up while describing a discovery made during a Ko Ko Mo remodel: a sawed-off shotgun and dozens of soldiers' wallets, robbed then ditched during World War II.
"Maybe I like the old ways better," Simone mumbles with a grin. "It's milquetoast now."

To Your Health
Al Garcia has found his niche in Weber County.
After opening an herb and distilled water emporium, the New Mexico transplant discovered his preventative products are a natural fit.
"It's right in line with the lifestyle," he says, explaining ginseng, protein supplements and pure water are popular with Latinos who rely on sound health to perform physical jobs. " If you don't have [health] insurance, you have to do this."
As a woman refills her towering water bottle, the front doors in Garcia's Ogden store get a workout. Mostly Mexican immigrants peruse bottles of peppermint concentrate that helps clear congestion or pills that deter appetite while they wait for water bottles to fill.
"My eyes are peeled on 7-Eleven and Maverik stores that shut down," says Garcia, who suddenly has stores scattered across the Southwest.
The Ogden store - across the street from a Mexican bar and labor office - also has altered the life of Jeremy Dannehl, Garcia's son-in-law, who chats up his regular customers in Spanish honed during a Mormon mission.
Between sales, Dannehl grabs a handful of herbs from his pocket. The green capsules capture the attention of Guadalupe Sustaita, a regular at the store. "My kids haven't missed a day of school since they have been taking these," he tells her.
Dannehl once worked in a factory on Ogden's west side, fortifying cars bound for Mexico with bullet-proof armor. He now manages the health store and is committed to providing that country's immigrants an entirely different product.
djensen@sltrib.com

Welcome to Little Mountain, home to Westinghouse's Western Zirconium plant. For 25 years, more than 400 workers have commuted here from as far away as southern Idaho and Riverton. They come to make zirconium, an impenetrable substance used to safely house nuclear fuel rods.
"We don't glow in the dark," Erika Anderson jokes about the chemical-heavy operation - with armed guards - that runs around the clock.
Despite the remote location - the plant is perched along the Great Salt Lake's moonscape shore that doubles as an Air Force training ground - workers say the good pay and benefits keep them coming back.
Anderson says she appreciates seeing the deer and horses on her daily drive from Roy. Her only gripe: the lack of lunch options. "There is a 'roach coach' that comes out here. But you know how that goes."

[delts145]

I wonder if Logan will get a mid to highrise hotel like what PG and Lehi are getting. :rolleyes:

I don't know SLC, Maybe Utaaah could give us a better idea of that. While Logan is definately coming along nicely it kind of seems like its on the fringe of the boom. :D

[Utaaah!]

I love Logan. If you haven't been there, or if it's been a while, consider making a day trip -- walk around downtown, the USU campus, or the trails of Logan Canyon, eat at the Bluebird Cafe, grab a snack at the campus creamery, sample the cheese curds at Gossners, and catch a show or concert at the historic Eccles Theater.

As far as the hotel is concerned, I hope it is built downtown, rather than on Wasatch's site south of downtown. If so, it may have to go taller to achieve the requisite number of rooms and perhaps incorporate structured parking. That could significantly increase the cost, however, so I doubt it will happen. I don't anticipate the building to rise half as many stories as the PG Embassy Suites, although that would be a nice, dominating addition to the Logan skyline.

[Utaaah!]

Davis County is already expanding its 2-year-old conference center. This is good news for northern Utah residents because it will allow the center to host more consumer trade shows. When I lived there, I rarely attended shows, although many interested me, because I didn't want to make the hour-long trek to the Southtowne Expo Center in Sandy. I attended many more shows when they were held at the much more convenient (for northerners) Salt Palace.

A larger center in Davis planned

http://deseretnews.com/photos/3707158.jpg

By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News
When Davis County's Barry Burton goes to Layton next month to meet with the city's planning commission, he will apply for site-plan approval for an expansion of the Davis Conference Center.
GSBS ArchitectsArtist's rendering shows plans for the expansion of the Davis Conference Center in Layton. Last year, the Davis County Board of Commissioners opted to issue $9.96 million in sales-tax revenue bonds to pay for the 40,000-square-foot addition, which will feature a 17,000-square-foot exhibit hall that could be expanded to 24,000 square feet.
As Davis County's assistant director of community and economic development, Burton will be the expansion's project manager. He previously oversaw the construction of the existing conference center; the Davis County Events Center, formerly known as the FairPark; and the Centerville branch of the Davis County Library.
During a board meeting Tuesday, commissioners officially authorized the two applications Burton will take to Layton. The county cannot start construction until Layton approves the project.
The Davis Conference Center has operated at nearly full capacity since it opened in 2004. The conference center expansion is expected to bring $15 million to $16 million to Davis County's economy by hosting larger conventions than the existing conference center can accommodate.
Construction on a 302-stall parking lot for the expansion will likely begin in March, Burton said.

[delts145]

:previous:

:tup: Already expanding after only two years. That's a very good sign. No wonder Utah Counties southern metro is so anxious to get their own center in.

[SLC Projects]

That's great news. A 40,000-square-foot addition will bring more people and business up there to Layton.

[delts145]

Real-estate facts for Davis County

The Davis County Commerce Consumer Research Group statistics/forecast for real estate in the county for the year 2006-7 were recently released.
Highlights include:
• Office lease rates were up and are predicted to rise again in 2007. Lean days for office space — this despite the fact that more than 200,000 square feet of new office space came onto the market in 2006.

• Office vacancy in 2006 dropped by 2 percent for an overall 2006 total of 11.39 percent (year end 2005 was 13.51 percent).

• The office space squeeze in Salt Lake County will continue to attract more businesses to Davis County.

• A record breaking 183,000 square feet of new retail space came into the Davis County market in 2006 inching the vacancy rate up to 8.42 percent compared to 2005 (8.31 percent vacancy).

• Lease rates hit an all-time-high of $15.97 a square foot, $1.85 per square foot above 2005.

• In 2007 vacancy rates are predicted to remain level or drop slightly, because there won't be as much new retail space available.

• For the industrial side, an increase in vacancy rates from 2005's 4.02 percent to the 2006 rate of 5.34 percent. In 2007 expect lease and sales rates to continue to climb because industrial land is hard to find.

• Freeport Center has only 65,000 square feet vacant of a total 7.2 million square feet of space. The Freeport West Industrial Park has better pickings, a total 389,000 square feet available.

• Apartment rents are at all time highs. The average rent in 2006 hit $670/month, up by $50/month over 2005.

• At the time of this report, only 203 rental units of a total 5,505 were vacant in Davis County. Apartment complex vacancy is now at an all-time low of 3.57 percent.

[delts145]

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site297/2007/0126/20070126__biz_salomoncenter_0127~1.jpg

Ogden rec center gets ski company's moniker
Workers piece together a climbing wall that will accommodate 17 climbers at one time at The Salomon Center in Ogden. The $18.5 million downtown facility is scheduled to open in May. (Paul Fraughton/The Salt Lake Tribune

[gbb]

It's going to be nice to see life in the old mall site once again. I'm especially excited for The Salomon Center/Megaplex theater combo. The architecture of the Megaplex theater will be very unique and cutting edge, with a large mesh tower, movie screens on the exterior of the building, as well as a circular screen that floats over the entry.

[gbb]

Here are some elevations of the Megaplex theater:
http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/3420/eleveastsect1db6.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7288/elevnorthsect2cq8.jpg

[delts145]

:tup: gbb, I'm anxious to make a trip up to the area and check out all the new projects. It's been a while since I really took the time to just walk around Ogden's beautifully restored downtown. I'm really excited about this city's future and the many prestigious outdoor/sporting businesses that are making their home there.

......OOOOOOOHHHH, just looked at the rendering you just posted! Very Cool.

[gbb]

It's exciting. Having grown up in the Ogden area, I have always known its potential and it's great to see things starting to fall into place. There is a lot going on downtown and I've been able to be involved in some of those projects. So that adds an additional level of anticipation.